The value of yearly chest X-ray in patients with stage I breast cancer.

In 263 patients with stage I breast cancer, i.e. tumour less than 5 cm in diameter, no invasion of skin and deep fascia, and no involvement of axillary lymph nodes, X-rays of the chest were performed at 6, 12 months and yearly thereafter to the 6th year or until recurrence, another cancer was detected, the patient refused further follow-up or died. Among 1599 examinations, in only 0.25% (four patients) were unsuspected malignant changes observed. Due to this low cost/benefit ratio a fixed routine schedule of repeated chest X-rays in stage I cancer patients, otherwise apparently free of disease, is not justified.