Contribuição da ultra-sonografia abdominal no seguimento de pacientes pós-tratamento de câncer mamário

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the contribution of abdominal ultrasound in the follow-up of a group of post-treatment breast cancer patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied the findings of abdominal ultrasound examinations of 100 patients treated for primary breast cancer. These patients were attended from January to December of 1997 at the Ultrasound Sector, Division of Radiology of the Department of Clinical Medicine of the "Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirao Preto da Universidade de Sao Paulo", SP, Brazil. Information such as age, histological type, staging, number of examinations and ultrasound findings were rated and analyzed. RESULTS: Abdominal ultrasound was normal in 70% of the patients whereas liver metastases were diagnosed in 3% of the patients. CONCLUSION: The majority of the abnormalities identified were not directly related to complications of breast cancer.