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Breast Cancer Surveillance — SCE Medical Oncology MCQ

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HardBreast CancerBreast Cancer SurveillanceSCE Medical Oncology

A 52-year-old woman completed breast-conserving treatment for unilateral invasive breast cancer five years ago. Five annual bilateral mammograms have been normal and she has no hereditary high-risk indication. What imaging plan now matches NICE follow-up guidance in England?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: E — Enter the NHS Breast Screening Programme schedule, retaining symptom-triggered diagnostic assessment

Explanation lettering: D = shown as A · E = shown as B · A = shown as C · C = shown as D · B = shown as E

B is correct. NICE offers annual mammography for five years after treatment and then, for women in the relevant age range, transition to the NHS Breast Screening Programme. Ultrasound and MRI are not routine post-treatment surveillance tests without another indication, and asymptomatic CT, PET or bone imaging is not a substitute. Five normal studies do not abolish later ipsilateral or contralateral risk, so all imaging should not simply stop. Surveillance remains bilateral after breast conservation; after mastectomy, by contrast, mammography is not performed on ipsilateral soft tissues. New symptoms trigger diagnostic assessment irrespective of the routine schedule.

Reference: NICE NG101 breast-cancer follow-up recommendations: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng101/chapter/Recommendations