National Variations in the Work-Up, Investigation, and Surgical Management of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ of the Breast across Canadian Surgeons

Variation in the management of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) of the breast occur at both national and international levels. The aim of this study is to determine the degree of, and reasons behind, this variation in the workup and treatment of DCIS among Canadian surgeons. We developed a 35-question survey involving the pre-, peri, and post-operative management of DCIS using SurveyMonkey(®). The survey was sent out via email and responses were analyzed using SurveyMonkey(®) and Microsoft Excel. 51/119 (43%) of the Canadian General Surgeons contacted participated in this study. Some variation was observed in the utilization of pre-operative imaging with 29/48 (60%) surgeons routinely using ultrasound. Perceived contraindications to breast conserving therapy also varied with multicentricity (54%) and the presence of diffuse microcalcifications (13%). Nearly all respondent’s (98%) patients had access to immediate breast reconstruction following a mastectomy but 14/48 (29%) of respondents’ patients were required to travel a mean distance of 300 km to undergo the procedure. Substantial variation was also seen during follow-up with half (52%) of surgeons following up patients for >1 month in their surgical clinic. There is considerable variation in the management of DCIS among Canadian Surgeons. The present study indicates the need for pan-Canadian, evidence-based guidelines to ensure a standardized management strategy for patients with DCIS.