Purpose:

In this study we aimed to determine the practice patterns on both diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer patients at university hospitals in Turkey.

Patients and Methods:

A questionnaire which asks the demographics and clinical findings of patients as well as infrastructure of hospitals and patterns of breast cancer treatment was prepared and sent to general surgeons who practice in university hospitals. Data were collected retrospectively and no comparison was done among institutions. Descriptive results were given.

Results:

Data from 42 hospitals and 4982 breast cancer patients who were operated in 2009 were assessed. Excisional biopsy were the most common tissue diagnostic procedure in all regions except Marmara region. Breast conserving surgery was the most preferred surgical method for early breast cancer in all over Turkey except South-Eastern and Mediterranean regions. Multidisciplinary team work was performed in 26 institutions.

Conclusion:

This study showed that there are wide differences in means of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in different geographic regions in Turkey, therefore no homogeneity in breast health service at those hospitals which answered the questionnaire. It seems that there is still need to implement internationally agreed consensus quality measures in practice. Lack of infrastructure and multidisciplinary team work were the main problems on improving quality of breast care in Turkey.

Keywords: breast cancer, quality assurance, surgery, treatment