AB021. 189. The incidence of breast carcinoma recurrence post breast conserving surgery

Background: Since the adoption of breast conserving therapy (BCT) in suitable patients with breast cancer, concerns over local recurrence rates have remained. Surveillance of patients following BCT will inherently involve a rate of ipsilateral needle biopsies. The aim of this study is to interrogate the rate and yield of subsequent ipsilateral biopsies in patients post BCT.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed of all patients who underwent an ipsilateral core needle biopsy between 2013 and 2017 following prior BCT.

Results: In total 308 patients undergoing surveillance for a past history of breast cancer underwent a core needle biopsy between 2013 and 2017. Of these patients, 200 had BCT with 146 of these biopsies taken from the ipsilateral breast. Forty-eight biopsies confirmed the presence of ipsilateral breast cancer, representing 24% of the original 200 BCT patients. The time from BCT to ipsilateral recurrence was greater than 10 years in just over half the patients (54%) with a mean time of 7 years.

Conclusions: During a 5-year period, 48 patients were diagnosed with an ipsilateral cancer following BCT at our tertiary referral centre. Ensuring that patients discharged from regular follow up at 5 years following initial BCT have access to ongoing mammographic surveillance beyond 5 years remains vital.

Keywords: Breast conserving therapy (BCT); cancer; recurrence; surveillance