How frequent is postmastectomy breast reconstructive surgery? A study linking two statewide databases

Studies of the frequency of reconstructive surgery among breast cancer pati ents have involved non-population-based sources, incomplete ascertainment, or both. Postmastectomy breast reconstructive surgery among 4688 breast can cer patients (diagnosed between 1992 and 1996) was estimated by linking a p opulation-based cancer registry with a statewide hospital discharge databas e in Connecticut. Of these 4688 patients, 585 (12.5 percent) had reconstruc tion coded in one database or both databases. The reconstruction rates were higher than in a previous study in Connecticut and increased from 9 percen t in 1992 to 16 percent in 1996. Reconstruction was not related to the pati ent's tumor size, marital status, or race (black Versus white), but decline d with increasing age at diagnosis and with poverty rate (of the census tra ct of residence). These associations were similar to those reported from pr evious studies.