Current Practice Patterns and Recent Trends in Breast Biopsy Among Radiologists and Surgeons

摘要

Purpose: To ascertain the relative roles of radiologists and surgeons in breast biopsy.Methods and Materials: The Nationwide Medicare Physician Supplier Procedure Summary Master Files for 1999 to 2004 were used to study the 4 Current Procedural Terminology~R, Fourth Edition, codes for breast biopsy. Using the Medicare specialty codes, physician providers were categorized as radiologists, surgeons, or others. Procedure volumes for each of the 3 groups were tabulated for each year of the study, and trends were assessed.Results: Between 1999 and 2004, the breast biopsy utilization rate per 100,000 Medicare beneficiaries increased by 43%. In 2004, a total of 144,697 breast biopsies were performed, of which 124,423 (86%) were done with imaging guidance. From 1999 to 2004, procedure volume increased by 101% among radiologists, compared with 32% among surgeons. By 2004, radiologists performed 63% of all breast biopsies, compared with 32% by surgeons and 5% by others. Within the 2 codes that arc specific for the use of imaging guidance, radiologists performed 72%.Conclusions: Radiologists predominate in breast biopsies, and their role has gotten progressively stronger in recent veats.