title: Underutilization of breast-conservation surgery with radiation therapy for women with stage Tis, I or II breast cancer.
abstract: Despite clinical evidence from the National Institutes of Health consensus panel in 1991 that breast-conservation surgery (BCS) with radiation therapy (RT) is appropriate treatment in early-stage breast cancer, the overall rate of acceptance and actual practice of BCS with RT has remained low. We retrospectively reviewed 228 cases of breast cancer in female patients with stage Tis, I or II breast cancer treated between 1987 and 1995. Thirty-five cases (15.4%) were stage Tis, 70 cases (30.7%) were stage I, and 123 cases (53.9%) were stage II, Overall, 57% of Tis, I or II breast cancers received conservative treatment; 57% of stage Tis, 79% of stage I, and 44% of stage II tumors. These rates of conservative therapy are higher than in other reported series in the literature. BCS with RT produces equivalent rates of morbidity and survival as MRM, and, because it preserves the breast, is preferable for the majority of women who present with stage Tis, I, or II breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Crozer-Chester Medical Center, Upland, Pennsylvania 19013-3995, USA.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Patton
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Moss
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Kraut
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Germain
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Haith
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Shotwell
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Reilly
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015409:Mastectomy, Radical; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015413:Mastectomy, Simple; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome