Surgeons’ Volume Status Doesn’t Affect Cancer-Related Mortality in Older Women with Early-Stage Breast Cancer

Overall mortality, but not cancer-related mortality, was higher among women whose surgeons performed five or fewer procedures annually.

The strongest predictors of breast cancer survival are tumor size and nodal status; medical comorbidities also predict overall survival. However, the importance of other factors in determining overall survival in women with stage I and II breast cancer is unknown. Results of previous studies have suggested that a surgeon’s volume of procedures affects patient outcomes, but this has never been studied rigorously in early-stage breast cancer patients.

In this observational cohort study of 12,216 women, Medicare claims data (1994–1996) submitted for 1856 surgeons were examined. Surgeons were categorized as having low (<5 cases; 71%), medium (5–9 cases; 21%), or high (≥10 cases; 8%) annual volumes of Medicare cases. Surgeons in each category tre…

Reviewing Authors

Henry Mark Kuerer, MD, PhD, FACS

Disclosures

Speaker's BureauPhysicians’ Education Resource, LLC

RoyaltiesMcGraw-Hill Professional; UpToDate, Inc.

Editorial BoardsAnnals of Surgical Oncology

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Breast Surgeons (Chair, Publications Committee)