Open AccessSurvey of A merican and C anadian General Surgeons' Perceptions of Margin Status and Practice Patterns for Breast Conserving Surgery
Author(s) -
Parvez Elena,
Hodgson Nicole,
Cornacchi Sylvie D.,
Ramsaroop Amanda,
Gordon Maggie,
Farrokhyar Forough,
Porter Geoffrey,
Quan May Lynn,
Wright Francis,
Lovrics Peter J.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the breast journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.533
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1524-4741
pISSN - 1075-122X
DOI - 10.1111/tbj.12299
Subject(s) - medicine , breast cancer , margin (machine learning) , breast conserving surgery , surgical margin , ductal carcinoma , breast surgery , general surgery , surgery , mastectomy , cancer , resection , machine learning , computer science
Although breast conservation surgery ( BCS ) is commonly performed, several aspects of the procedure remain controversial. We undertook a cross‐sectional survey to compare C anadian ( CDN ) and A merican ( AM ) general surgeons' reported BCS practice patterns to better understand the cross‐border differences in early‐stage breast cancer surgery care. A modified D illman M ethod survey was mailed to 1,447 AM and 1,443 CDN surgeons. Factors evaluated included preoperative assessment, margin definition, surgical techniques, and re‐excision practices. The response rate was 26% and 51% for AM and CDN surgeons, respectively. There was variation in use of preoperative core biopsies. A merican surgeons required wider margins for invasive cancer and ductal carcinoma in situ, and more often recommend re‐excision for invasive cancer with 1 and 2 mm margins (p < 0.05). There was also variability in surgical techniques used for intraoperative margin assessment. Wide variation in BCS practice was observed, with some of this variability related to surgeon country.