Trends in surgical treatment of younger patients with breast cancer in Australia and New Zealand.
BACKGROUND
The optimal surgical treatment of early breast cancer in young women is not fully determined, while past reports indicate a trend to the increased use of breast-conserving surgery (BCS). This study aims to assess the trend in Australia and New Zealand of BCS use between 1999 and 2006 and to determine pathological factors associated with it.


METHODS
Data on cancer characteristics and surgical procedures in younger patients with early breast cancer reported to the National Breast Cancer Audit have been analysed.


RESULTS
There was little change in the rate of BCS over the last 7 years with an overall rate of 53%. The main factors associated with the use of BCS are low histological grade, absence of extensive intraductal carcinoma (EIC), negative lymph node involvement, unifocal tumour and small tumour size.


CONCLUSIONS
Between 1999 and 2006, the use of BCS for early breast cancer treatment in younger women was stable. These results show that surgeons contributing data to the National Breast Cancer Audit appear to use pathological factors that are known to increase the risk of local recurrence after BCS, in selecting mastectomy for younger women.
Wang
Jim
J
National Breast Cancer Audit, ASERNIP-S, Royal Auatralasian College of Surgeons, Stepney, Australia.
Boult
Margaret
M
Tyson
Sarah
S
Babidge
Wendy
W
Zorbas
Helen
H
Kollias
James
J
Roder
David
D
Maddern
Guy
G
D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental / Q000639:trends*; D009520:New Zealand