301. Variability of Postsurgical Imaging Surveillance of Breast Cancer Patients: A Nationwide Survey Study.
- Author
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Patel BK, Lee CS, Kosiorek HE, Newell MS, Pizzitola VJ, and D'Orsi CJ
- Subjects
- Early Detection of Cancer, Female, Humans, Surveys and Questionnaires, United States, Breast Neoplasms diagnostic imaging, Breast Neoplasms surgery, Mammography, Mastectomy, Segmental, Population Surveillance, Practice Patterns, Physicians'
- Abstract
Objective: Because of observed clinical variance and the discretion of referring physicians and radiologists in patient follow-up, the purpose of this study was to conduct a survey to explore whether broad discrepancy exists in imaging protocols used for postsurgical surveillance., Subjects and Methods: An online survey was created to assess radiologists' use of diagnostic versus screening mammography for women with a personal history of breast cancer and determine whether the choice of protocol was associated with practice characteristics (setting, region, and reader type)., Results: Of 8170 surveys sent, 849 (10%) completed responses were returned. Seventy-nine percent of respondents recommended initial diagnostic mammography after lumpectomy (65% at 6 months, 14% at 12 months); 49% recommended diagnostic surveillance for up to 2 years before a return to screening mammography; and 33% continued diagnostic surveillance for 2-5 years before returning to screening. For imaging after mastectomy, 57% of respondents recommended diagnostic mammography of the unaffected breast. Among the 57%, however, 37% recommended diagnostic screening for only the first postmastectomy follow-up evaluation, and the other 20% permanently designated patients for diagnostic mammography after mastectomy., Conclusion: The optimal surveillance mammography regimen must be better defined. This preliminary study showed variability in diagnostic versus screening surveillance mammography for women with a history of breast cancer. Future studies should evaluate why these variations occur and how to standardize recommendations to tailor personalized imaging.
- Published
- 2018
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