Patterns of Use and Short-Term Complications of Breast Brachytherapy in the National Medicare Population From 2008–2009
Presley CJ, Soulos PR, Herrin J, Roberts KB, Yu JB, Killelea B, Lesnikoski BA, Long JB, Gross CP. Patterns of Use and Short-Term Complications of Breast Brachytherapy in the National Medicare Population From 2008–2009. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2012, 30: 4302-4307. PMID: 23091103, PMCID: PMC3675700, DOI: 10.1200/jco.2012.43.5297.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsWhole breast irradiationHospital referral regionsBone complicationsClinical characteristicsSkin complicationsEarly-stage breast cancerNational treatment patternsPercent of patientsShort-term complicationsBreast-conserving surgeryNational Medicare populationComplication rateTreatment patternsAge 66Breast cancerReferral regionsMedicare populationPatterns of useComplicationsMedicare beneficiariesTreatment groupsClinical practiceBreast brachytherapyBrachytherapyInstrumental variable analysis