Influence of surgical technique on complications, readmissions and clinical progress of breast cancer in women participating in screening programs

Abstract

IntroductionComplications and readmissions derived from surgical treatment of breast cancer have been less evaluated than recurrence and mortality. The aim of this study was to analyze the results of surgical treatment and prognosis in a screening population with known high surgical variability. MethodsThis multicenter study included 1086 women diagnosed with breast cancer from the CaMISS cohort study of women aged between 50 and 69years participating in four breast cancer screening programs in Spain between 2000 and 2009 with a follow-up until 2014. Multivariate models were used to estimate the adjusted odds ratio of breast surgery (mastectomy vs conservative treatment) for complications and readmissions and hazard ratios for recurrences and mortality. ResultsPrimary breast surgical treatment consisted of conservative treatment in 821 women (80.1%) and mastectomy in 204 (19.9%). Mastectomy was associated with readmissions, recurrences and mortality but this association was not statistically significant on multivariate adjusted analysis (ORa=1.51 [95%CI 0.89–2.57], HRa=1.37 [95%CI 0.85–2.19] and HRa=1.52 [95%CI 0.95–2.43] respectively). In our sample, the variables with greatest impact on complications, recurrences and mortality were stages III and IV (ORa=4.4[95%CI 1.22–16.16], HRa=7.96 [95%CI 3.32–19.06] and HRa=3.92[95%CI 1.77–8.67]). ConclusionComplications, readmissions, recurrence and mortality were similar in both surgical techniques. These results support that surgical treatment for breast cancer can be adapted to professional and health system circumstances, and to the surgical needs and desires of each patient. At a time when screening programs are being questioned the variable with the greatest impact on mortality was stage III and IV.