What do breast surgeons do?
BACKGROUND
There are an increasing number of fellowship-trained breast surgeons and surgical oncologists who dedicate their clinical practice exclusively to breast disease. However, there are little published data regarding characteristics of a breast surgical practice.


METHODS
All patient visits at a university-based breast surgery practice were reviewed for calendar years 2006 and 2007.


RESULTS
There were 10,381 patient visits, of which 2,334 (22%) represented new patients. Of these, 11% were referred with a diagnosis of cancer. Out of the remainder, 29% had a needle biopsy (8% by the surgeon and 21% by radiology), 29% underwent surgery, and 13% were ultimately diagnosed with cancer. After completion of initial therapy, 6 months or 1 year follow-up was recommended for 59% of the patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The specialty of breast surgery is unique in its nonoperative volume and extensive duration of follow-up. Strategies need to be designed to make this process more time-efficient for the surgeon.
Schwartz
Jean-Claude D
JC
Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
Rishi
Muhammad
M
Christy
Carla J
CJ
Grube
Baiba J
BJ
Lannin
Donald R
DR
D001706:Biopsy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011364:Professional Practice; D014481:United States