Primary Surgery for Initial Metastatic Breast Cancer

The use of surgery was associated with improved survival, but controversy remains.

The role of performing breast cancer primary surgery in patients with initial metastatic disease has been widely debated. To analyze potential survival differences between such patients who received primary surgery as the first treatment and those who did not, investigators conducted a retrospective cohort study involving 21,372 women with initial stage IV disease treated between 1988 and 2011 identified from cases recorded in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program. Results were as follows:

Overall median survival for the cohort increased from 20 months in 1988–1991to 26 months in 2007–2011.
Survival of at least 10 years was seen among 9.6% patients who had surgery, compared with 2.9% of patients who did not.
The use of…

Reviewing Author

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)