Assessment of hospital-level adjusted breast cancer sentinel lymph node positivity rates.

ABSTRACT:

Background/objectives

Proficiency of performing sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for breast cancer varies among hospitals and may be reflected in the hospital's SLNB positivity rate. Our objectives were to examine whether hospital characteristics are associated with variation in SLNB positivity rates and whether hospitals with lower-than-expected SLNB positivity rates have worse patient survival.

Methods

Using the National Cancer Data Base, stage I to III breast cancer patients were identified (2004-2012). Hospital-level SLNB positivity rates were adjusted for tumor and patient factors. Hospitals were divided into terciles of SLNB positivity rates (lower-, higher-, as-expected). Hospital characteristics and survival were examined across terciles.

Results

Of 438 610 S

SUBMITTER: Berger ER 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7775040 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature