Changes in the treatment of early breast cancer at the Mayo Clinic: 1988-1992.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the temporal patterns in the surgical management of early (stages 0-2) breast cancer at Mayo Clinic between 1988 and 1992.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

Academic medical center, United States.

SUBJECTS

2551 patients with stage 0-2 primary breast cancer who underwent surgical treatment.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Change in the number of patients who underwent breast conserving surgery during the five year period.

RESULTS

The overall number of patients who underwent breast conserving surgery ranged from 73/498 (15%) in 1988 to 187/547 (34%) in 1992. When the patients who were ineligible to undergo breast conservation were subtracted from those who underwent mastectomy (leaving only those who chose mastectomy), the proportion nearly reached 50% in 1991, and breast conservation procedures exceeded mastectomies in 1992.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of women primarily treated for early breast cancer during the five year period 1988-1992 undergo mastectomy. The reasons appear to be multifactorial, but a significant percentage are not eligible for breast conservation according to our criteria.