A single-institution prospective evaluation of a neuro-oncology multidisciplinary team meeting

Publication date: October 2018Source: Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, Volume 56Author(s): Malaka Ameratunga, Dorothea Miller, Wayne Ng, Mori Wada, Augusto Gonzalvo, Lawrence Cher, Hui K. GanAbstractMulti-disciplinary team meetings (MDTs) are considered essential to quality cancer care. For some malignancies, MDTs have been associated with improved outcomes, but data regarding the neuro-oncology MDT is limited. We prospectively described the MDT at our institution and evaluated its impact on clinical management. Cases were discussed amongst the treating team and a pre-MDT plan and reason for discussion (RFD) was documented before the MDT. Patient specific clinical data was captured prospectively, with further pathological and radiological information captured during the MDT. Subsequently, the MDT consensus decision was recorded. High impact decisions (HID) were those in which the pre-MDT plan was substantially modified. A HID rate of>10% was considered clinically significant. Adherence to MDT recommendations was recorded. Seventy-nine cases were discussed at the MDT. Fifty-two cases (66%) were male. The median age was 53 (17–84). Thirty-three cases were new diagnoses and the remainder were relapsed/progressive disease. Thirty-nine cases were primary brain tumours, 25 were metastatic tumours and 15 were other. Twenty-eight (35%) had HID. No RFDs were statistically significantly associated with a HID (p = 0.265). Adherence data was collected for 95% (75) of cases. Treatm...
Source: Journal of Clinical Neuroscience - Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research