Work

Underascertainment of radiotherapy receipt in Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry data

Year: 2011

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry data have been used to suggest underuse and disparities in receipt of radiotherapy. Prior studies have cautioned that SEER may underascertain radiotherapy but lacked adequate representation to assess whether underascertainment varies by geography or patient sociodemographic characteristics. The authors sought to determine rates and correlates of underascertainment of radiotherapy in recent SEER data. METHODS: The authors evaluated data from 2290 survey respondents with nonmetastatic breast cancer, aged 20 to 79 years, diagnosed from June of 2005 to February 2007 in Detroit and Los Angeles and reported to SEER registries (73% response rate). Survey responses regarding treatment and sociodemographic factors were merged with SEER data. The authors compared radiotherapy receipt as reported by patients versus SEER records. The authors then assessed correlates of radiotherapy underascertainment in SEER. RESULTS: Of 1292 patients who reported receiving radiotherapy, 273 were coded as not receiving radiotherapy in SEER (underascertained). Underascertainment was more common in Los Angeles than in Detroit (32.0% vs 11.25%, P < .001). On multivariate analysis, radiotherapy underascertainment was significantly associated in each registry (Los Angeles, Detroit) with stage (P = .008, P = .026), income (P < .001, P = .050), mastectomy receipt (P < .001, P < .001), chemotherapy receipt (P < .001, P = .045), and diagnosis at a hospital that was not accredited by the American College of Surgeons (P < .001, P < .001). In Los Angeles, additional significant variables included younger age (P < .001), nonprivate insurance (P < .001), and delayed receipt of radiotherapy (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: SEER registry data as currently collected may not be an appropriate source for documentation of rates of radiotherapy receipt or investigation of geographic variation in the radiation treatment of breast cancer.

Source: Cancer

DOI: 10.1002/cncr.26295

Authors: Reshma Jagsi, Paul Abrahamse, Sarah T. Hawley, John J. Graff, Ann S. Hamilton, Steven J. Katz

Institutions: University of Michigan, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Rutgers Cancer Institute, University of Southern California

Language: English

Topic: Global Cancer Incidence and Screening

Subfield: Oncology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion