Non Clinical Factors as Determinants of the Use of Breast Conservative Surgery in Italy

Abstract

The aims of the study were to evaluate the trend of breast conservative surgery (BCS) in Italian breast cancer patients and to identify its nonclinical determinants. Data of 2062 patients surgically treated patients for primary breast cancer were evaluated; 788 (38.0%) had been submitted to breast conservative surgery. A different percentage of breast conservative surgery was found with respect to geographic patient's residence (North, 41.1%; Central, 37.6%; South, 33.0%). Multifactorial analysis showed that time since diagnosis, age at diagnosis and nonclinical factors, such as geographic area of residence and level of education, were significantly associated with breast conservative surgery.