Bone metastases in primary operable breast cancer. The role of a yearly scintigraphy.

In 231 patients with primary operable breast cancer bone scintigraphies were performed yearly from the second to the 6th year until recurrence irrespective of localization was diagnosed, another cancer was detected, or the patient refused further follow-up or died. During the observation period (from 2 up to 7 years after surgery) 13 patients (5.6%) had bone metastases verified by X-ray or histology within 12 months after the last bone scintigraphy. The scintigraphy was positive in only 7 of these patients. The yearly incidence of bone metastases varied between 0.6 and 2.6%. Due to this low incidence and a low cost/benefit, we conclude that a fixed schedule of repeated scintigraphies in primary operable breast cancer patients otherwise free of apparent disease is not justified.