International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics
Volume 74, Issue 5 , Pages 1506-1512 , 1 August 2009

Baseline Utilization of Breast Radiotherapy Before Institution of the Medicare Practice Quality Reporting Initiative

  • Benjamin D. Smith, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Radiation Oncology Flight, Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
    • Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress reprint requests to: Benjamin D. Smith, M.D., 2200 Bergquist Drive, Suite 1, Lackland AFB, TX 78236. Tel: (210) 292-7771; Fax: (210) 292-3773
    • ,
  • Grace L. Smith, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
    • ,
  • Kenneth B. Roberts, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
    • ,
  • Thomas A. Buchholz, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas

Received 7 August 2008 ,Revised 11 October 2008 ,Accepted 14 October 2008.

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 This study was presented at the 2008 ASCO/ASTRO/SSO Breast Cancer Symposium, Washington, DC, on September 6, 2008.

 Dr. Benjamin Smith was supported by the American Society of Clinical Oncology Young Investigator Award and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. This study used the linked SEER-Medicare database. The interpretation and reporting of these data are the sole responsibility of the authors. The authors acknowledge the efforts of the Applied Research Program, NCI; the Office of Research, Development and Information, CMS; Information Management Services (IMS); and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program tumor registries in the creation of the SEER-Medicare database.

 Conflict of interest: none.

PII: S0360-3016(08)03592-X

doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2008.10.012

International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics
Volume 74, Issue 5 , Pages 1506-1512 , 1 August 2009

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