Practice patterns and perceptions of margin status for breast conserving surgery for breast carcinoma: National Survey of Canadian General Surgeons

Peter J. Lovrics, Maggie Gordon, Sylvie D. Cornacchi, Forough Farrokhyar, Amanda Ramsaroop, Nicole Hodgson, May Lynn Quan, Francis Wright, Geoffrey Porter

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: We surveyed Canadian General Surgeons to examine decision-making in early stage breast cancer. Methods: A modified Dillman Method was used for this mail survey of 1443 surgeons. Practice patterns and factors that influence management choices for: preoperative assessment, definition of margin status, surgical techniques and recommendations for re-excision were assessed. Results: The response rate was 51% with 41% treating breast cancer. Most (80%) were community surgeons, with equal distribution of low/medium/high volume and years of practice categories. Approximately 25% of surgeons "sometimes or frequently" performed diagnostic excisional biopsies while 90% report "frequently" or "always" performing preoperative core biopsies. There was marked variation in defining negative and close margins, in the use of intra-operative margin assessment techniques and recommendations for re-excision. Conclusions: Responses revealed significant variation in attitudes and practices. These findings likely reflect an absence of consensus in the literature and potential gaps between best evidence and practice.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)730-734
Number of pages5
JournalBreast
Volume21
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2012

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This project was funded by a Knowledge Translation/Linkage grant from the Canadian Breast Cancer Research Alliance (CBCRA). The granting agency did not have a role in the study design, data collection, analysis or interpretation.

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Surgery
  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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