Breast cancer screening quality control for the surgeon

Abstract

The mammographic screening led us to a new era in the diagnosis of breast cancer, increasing the number of non-palpable tumors, a fact related to the decrease of the size and breast cancer staging. Likewise surgical treatment has changed with the emergence of conservative surgery, the sentinel lymph node and oncoplastic procedures. The neoadjuvant therapy resulted in a high rate of conservative surgery. The diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer have become complex and multidisciplinary. The surgeon has an important role related to the diagnostic evaluation, clinical staging, surgical treatment and organization of the women treatment. We are living in a new era with the application of guidelines aiming quality control patterns. The American Society of Surgeons created the National Accreditation Program of Breast Centers and the European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists created the European Breast Cancer Network. We discuss the main aspects and parameters used in these programs related to quality control that must be performed by the surgeon.