Concordant care in sentinel lymph node omission following Choosing Wisely® recommendations at a comprehensive cancer...

In 2016, the SSO and ABIM released a Choosing Wisely® guideline stating SLNB can be safely omitted in women ≥70 with HR ​+ ​HER-invasive breast cancer. No study evaluating concordance of care with this guideline has been performed within a comprehensive cancer center.

From 2005 to 2020, there were 382 patients with cT1-2N0 invasive carcinoma ER+/PR+ and HER2-identified as having undergone SLNB. These patients were then separated into two groups; those in the pre-guideline concordance cohort (2005-2015) and those in the post-guideline concordance (2016-2020) cohort. Axillary management concordance was trended over time.

382 patients from 2005 to 2020 with HR ​+ ​HER- IBC were identified. No difference was seen in SLNB pre-versus post-guidelines (p ​= ​0.35). Increased concordance was noted as age increased (p ​= ​0.0068) and adjuvant radiation therapy exclusion (p ​< ​0.0001) post-guideline release. Concordance improved over the years post-guideline release (R² ​= ​0.45).

Surgical guideline adoption occurs over time but may also be affected by outside decisions and factors. Further study into patterns of guideline adoption may facilitate improving adherence to guidelines.