Figure 3

Performance of quality indicators (QIs) compared to the respective DKG/DGS Requirements of Breast Centres (FAB) during the 2003–2007 period. QIs Nos.: 1 = Preoperative histological confirmation of diagnosis; 2 = Appropriate axillary dissection; [ex-3] = Complete tumour staging data; 3 = Data on safety distance between tumour and resection margin; [ex-4] = HER-2/neu assessment; 4 = Specimen radiography; 5 = Hormone receptor assessment; 6 = Appropriate endocrine therapy in hormone receptor-positive patients; 7.1a = Appropriate adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy during the analysis period, age ≤ 70 years; 8 = Percentage of patients in clinical trials; 9 = Appropriate radiotherapy after breast-conserving therapy; 10 = Appropriate radiotherapy after mastectomy; 11b = Indication for breast-conserving therapy at T1. QI No. 1 (Preoperative histological confirmation of diagnosis) was compared against the stricter DKG/DGS requirement of 90% (for palpable tumours as opposed to 70% for nonpalpable tumours) as the benchmark. The benchmarking system does not currently distinguish between palpable and nonpalpable tumours. QIs labelled "ex-3" (Complete tumour staging data) and "ex-4" (HER 2/neu assessment) were discontinued at the end of 2006 and replaced by QIs "3" (Data on safety distance between tumour and resection margin) and "4" (Specimen radiography) in 2007. Relative performance was not defined for QIs 7.1b, 7.2a, 7.2b, 11a and 11.c-e in the absence of relevant DKG/DGS requirements.