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This article is part of the supplement: Royal College of Radiologists Breast Group Annual Scientific Meeting

Poster presentation

A survey of UK breast surgeons and radiologists to determine current and aspired mammography surveillance practice after treatment for primary breast cancer

C Robertson1*, R Thomas1, S Heys1, A Maxwell2, F Gilbert1 and the Mammographic Surveillance Health Technology Assessment Group1

  • * Corresponding author: C Robertson

Author Affiliations

1 University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK

2 Royal Bolton Hospital, Bolton, UK

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Breast Cancer Research 2009, 11(Suppl 2):P14 doi:10.1186/bcr2384


The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://breast-cancer-research.com/content/11/S2/P14


Published:26 October 2009

© 2009 Robertson et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Introduction

There is considerable debate about the optimal organisation of a surveillance mammography service following breast cancer treatment in the UK. The optimal frequency and duration of surveillance mammography is unclear, leading to variation in follow-up protocols. The aim of our survey was to describe the variation in current mammography surveillance practice.

Methods

A web-based, anonymous survey of members of the Association of Breast Surgery (ABS) at the British Association of Surgical Oncology (569) and Royal College of Radiology (RCR) Breast Group (479). Participants were invited to complete the survey via an email-based web-link sent by membership administrators.

Results

The survey was sent to 1,048 members from 106 NHS trusts and 185 (18%) responded: 64 (35%) radiologists, 119 (64%) surgeons, 2 (1%) other. The majority of respondents (158, 85%) initiated surveillance mammography (SM) 12 months after completion of surgery; 140 (76%) conduct SM annually following breast conserving surgery. Following mastectomy most conduct SM annually (103, 56%), or biennially (48, 26%). Most discharge from clinical follow-up at 5 (85, 46%) or 10 years (29, 16%) and from SM follow-up at 5 (45, 24%) or 10 (66, 36%) years. Forty-three percent of respondents followed one of two patterns of surveillance: initiate SM at 12 months, annual SM, with discharge at 5 years (34 of185); or initiate at 12 months, annual SM, with discharge at 10 years (46 of 185). Respondents varied greatly in the combinations of start, frequency, duration and discharge from SM.

Conclusion

Whilst common patterns in surveillance mammography practice exist, there is considerable variation in the way surveillance is organised.