Variation in positron emission tomography use after XXXX resection.

@entity1 @entity694 @entity5
PURPOSE: @entity694 surveillance guidelines do not routinely include positron emission tomography (PET) imaging; however, its use after surgical resection has been increasing. We evaluated the secular patterns of PET use after surgical resection of @entity694 among elderly @entity1 and identified factors associated with its increasing use. @entity1 AND METHODS: We used the SEER-linked Medicare database (July 2001 through December 2009) to establish a retrospective cohort of @entity1 age >=  66 years who had undergone surgical resection for @entity694 . Postoperative PET use was assessed with the test for trends. @entity1 , @entity5 , and treatment characteristics were analyzed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Of the 39,221 @entity1 with @entity694 , 6,326 (16.1%) had undergone a PET scan within 2 years after surgery. The use rate steadily increased over time. The majority of PET scans had been performed within 2 months after surgery. Among @entity1 who had undergone a PET scan, 3,644 (57.6%) had also undergone preoperative imaging, and 1,977 (54.3%) of these @entity1 had undergone reimaging with PET within 2 months after surgery. Marriage, year of diagnosis, @entity5 stage, preoperative imaging, postoperative visit to a medical oncologist, and adjuvant chemotherapy were significantly associated with increased PET use. CONCLUSION: PET use after @entity694 resection is steadily increasing, and further study is needed to understand the clinical value and effectiveness of PET scans and the reasons for this departure from guideline-concordant care.
