Random Physician Effect and Comparative Effectiveness of Treatment for Ductal Carcinoma In Situ
January 10, 2011
In the current issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Virnig and Tuttle discuss Dick et al.’s study on the impact of physician choices on DCIS outcomes. After accounting for the role of treatments, patient demographic and tumor characteristics, and positive margins, between 15% and 30% of the variation in DCIS outcomes could be attributed to the choice of physician. Evidently, choosing a physician matters immensely when it comes to the risk of DCIS recurrence or progression to invasive breast cancer, but what factors should women consider when seeking a high-quality provider? This study underscores the need to identify these factors and most importantly, to improve or at least standardize DCIS care.
Citations
Virnig BA, Tuttle TM. Random physician effect and comparative effectiveness of treatment for ductal carcinoma in situ. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2011; 103(2); 81-82.
Dick AW, Sorbero MS, Ahrendt GM, et al. Comparative effectiveness of ductal carcinoma in situ management and the roles of margins and surgeon. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2011; 103(2):92-104.
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