title: Determinants of mastectomy in breast conservation therapy candidates.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although underused, breast conservation therapy (BCT) is an accepted method for treatment of noninvasive and early breast cancer. The purpose of this analysis was to identify factors associated with receiving mastectomy when eligible for BCT.
  
  
  METHODS
  From a recent experience, 397 patients at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center presented with clinical stage 0, I, or II breast cancer. Demographics and tumor characteristics of patients who underwent BCT versus mastectomy were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 293 BCT candidates, 203 patients (69%) underwent BCT and 90 patients (31%) received a mastectomy. Of those 90 patients, 66 patients (73%) had documented concerns about receiving BCT. Multivariate analyses showed that widow status was a factor associated with receiving mastectomy at presentation (P = .04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of BCT candidates with early stage breast cancer undergo BCT. In our study, widow status was a predictive factor of mastectomy in BCT candidates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Unit 444, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Waddah
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Al-Refaie
authors.forename: Henry M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kuerer
authors.forename: Alam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khuwaja
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: Kelly K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Feig
authors.forename: Frederick
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ames
authors.forename: Merrick
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: S Eva
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Singletary
authors.forename: Funda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Meric-Bernstam
authors.forename: Gildy V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Babiera
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000379:methods*; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018579:Patient Selection; D017805:Widowhood