Local recurrence in breast cancer: an issue of quality of surgery [Abstract]

Results: Sixty-one of the 231 (26.41%) experienced local or local plus systemic recurrence. Age less than 40 years and lymphnode status (N > 3) were identified as significant factors influencing local recurrence by univariate analysis. Only lymph-node status (N > 3) remained significant with multivariate analysis (p = 0.013). Results when surgery was performed by general surgeons versus surgical oncologists were compared. Both groups were similar with respect to patient age, tumour size and length of follow-up. Patients managed by general surgeons experienced a 28% local recurrence rate compared with 6.25% local recurrence when treated by surgical oncologists (p = 0.048). When corrected for nodal involvement the difference continued to approach statistical significance (p = 0.0574).