6582Background: Although ASCO Choosing Wisely guidelines recommend against routine surveillance testing or imaging for asymptomatic individuals with early-stage breast cancer (ESBC) treated with curative intent, they are frequently performed. Physician… Click to show full abstract
6582Background: Although ASCO Choosing Wisely guidelines recommend against routine surveillance testing or imaging for asymptomatic individuals with early-stage breast cancer (ESBC) treated with curative intent, they are frequently performed. Physician specialty and costs associated with surveillance testing and imaging were examined in ESBC patients. Methods: Cancer registry patient records in Western Washington from 2007 to 2015 were linked with claims from two regional commercial insurers. Selected patients had been diagnosed with stage I/II breast cancer and treated with mastectomy or lumpectomy + radiation. Surveillance was considered from the first 4 month gap in treatment (surgery, chemo, radiation) through 13 months or restart of treatment. Evaluation and Management (E&M) and procedure codes for tumor marker (CEA, CA 15-3, CA 27.29) and advanced imaging (PET, CT, bone scan) were identified. Specialty codes were used to determine provider type. Physician visits were matched to tests using E&M codes...
               
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