Clinical And Cost Outcomes Associated With Multiple Open Procedures Following Percutaneous Breast Biopsy In Medicare Patients.

e12083Background: Percutaneous core-needle biopsy (PCNB) is the standard of care to diagnose suspicious lesions of the breast. Dependent upon histology, many women require additional open procedures for definitive diagnosis and excision. However, there remains little nationally-representative research on the proportion of women undergoing multiple open biopsy or lumpectomy procedures and the associated incremental burden to the health system. Methods: This study used Medicare 100% Standard Analytic Files (2010–2014) to identify patients undergoing PCNB in an outpatient setting. Patients included females aged ≥65; continuous Medicare enrollment; no history of cancer, chemotherapy, radiation or breast cancer surgery in the prior year. Open procedures were defined as an open biopsy or lumpectomy. Study follow-up was defined as 90 days from initial PCNB or until the day prior to chemotherapy, radiation, or mastectomy—to limit analysis to diagnosis-related payments. Payments were defined as Medicare payments. ...