Trends in breast-conserving surgery in Denmark, 1982-2002

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Surgical Oncology
• Public Health

Background:

• Breast cancer treatment has evolved significantly over recent decades.
• Surgical techniques aim to balance oncological safety with cosmetic outcomes.
• The adoption of new surgical practices can be influenced by clinical research and guidelines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the trend in breast-conserving surgery (BCS) for primary breast cancer in Northern Denmark from 1982 to 2002.
• To identify potential influential publications affecting the adoption of BCS.
• To understand the factors limiting BCS prevalence.

Main Methods:

• Utilized hospital discharge data from Northern Denmark counties.
• Incorporated data from the Danish Cancer Registry.
• Examined surgical trends in relation to key publication dates.

Main Results:

• BCS prevalence increased from <1% in 1982 to approximately 25% by 2002.
• The rise was most notable in young women and those with early-stage breast cancer.
• A 1988 publication by the Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group correlated with a steep increase in BCS adoption.

Conclusions:

• The adoption of BCS in Denmark was significantly influenced by specific clinical research.
• BCS prevalence appears to have plateaued around 25% by 2002.
• This plateau may be related to the proportion of eligible patients for BCS.