Andrew Linkugel1, Julie Margenthaler1, Barbara Dull1, Amy Cyr2. 1. Endocrine and Oncologic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri. 2. Endocrine and Oncologic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri. Electronic address: cyra@wudosis.wustl.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: For stage I-II breast cancer, routine radiologic staging in the absence of symptoms suggesting distant metastasis is not recommended. This study aims to determine the yield of these studies at a National Comprehensive Cancer Network member institution. METHODS: Patients presenting with clinical stage I-II breast cancer between 1998 and 2012 were identified in a prospective database. Charts were reviewed to document staging studies (computed tomography, bone scan, and positron emission tomography) performed within 6 mo of diagnosis. Results and additional diagnostic procedures were recorded. Appropriate statistical tests were used for the analysis. RESULTS: A total of 3291 patients were included (2044 stage I and 1247 stage II). Eight hundred eighty-two patients (27%) received computed tomography, bone scan, or positron emission tomography within 6 mo of diagnosis. Three hundred twelve patients were stage I (15% of the stage I cohort) and 570 patients were stage II (46% of the stage II cohort). Patients receiving staging studies were more often younger and had estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor-negative or HER2/neu-positive tumors. Of the 882 patients, 194 (22%) required additional imaging and/or biopsies to further evaluate abnormalities. Only 11 of those (5%) were confirmed to have metastasis (1.2% of the imaged patients, 0.3% of the total cohort). Of these, 1 was stage I at presentation and 10 were stage II. CONCLUSIONS: Identification of distant metastasis among stage I-II patients was rare. Even among patients judged appropriate for staging, only 1.2% were diagnosed with metastatic disease. These findings suggest that even at a National Comprehensive Cancer Network member institution staging studies are overused and lead to additional testing in over 20% of patients.
BACKGROUND: For stage I-II breast cancer, routine radiologic staging in the absence of symptoms suggesting distant metastasis is not recommended. This study aims to determine the yield of these studies at a National Comprehensive Cancer Network member institution. METHODS:Patients presenting with clinical stage I-II breast cancer between 1998 and 2012 were identified in a prospective database. Charts were reviewed to document staging studies (computed tomography, bone scan, and positron emission tomography) performed within 6 mo of diagnosis. Results and additional diagnostic procedures were recorded. Appropriate statistical tests were used for the analysis. RESULTS: A total of 3291 patients were included (2044 stage I and 1247 stage II). Eight hundred eighty-two patients (27%) received computed tomography, bone scan, or positron emission tomography within 6 mo of diagnosis. Three hundred twelve patients were stage I (15% of the stage I cohort) and 570 patients were stage II (46% of the stage II cohort). Patients receiving staging studies were more often younger and had estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor-negative or HER2/neu-positive tumors. Of the 882 patients, 194 (22%) required additional imaging and/or biopsies to further evaluate abnormalities. Only 11 of those (5%) were confirmed to have metastasis (1.2% of the imaged patients, 0.3% of the total cohort). Of these, 1 was stage I at presentation and 10 were stage II. CONCLUSIONS: Identification of distant metastasis among stage I-II patients was rare. Even among patients judged appropriate for staging, only 1.2% were diagnosed with metastatic disease. These findings suggest that even at a National Comprehensive Cancer Network member institution staging studies are overused and lead to additional testing in over 20% of patients.
Authors: Shrujal S Baxi; Minal Kale; Salomeh Keyhani; Benjamin R Roman; Annie Yang; Antonio P Derosa; Deborah Korenstein Journal: Med Care Date: 2017-07 Impact factor: 2.983
Authors: Brittany L Bychkovsky; Hao Guo; Jazmine Sutton; Laura Spring; Jennifer Faig; Ibiayi Dagogo-Jack; Chiara Battelli; Mary Jane Houlihan; Tsai-Chu Yeh; Steven E Come; Nancy U Lin Journal: Oncologist Date: 2016-08-22