Changes in multidisciplinary team decisions in a high volume head and neck oncological center following those made in its preferred partner.

Objective: Head and neck cancer care is highly complex, and multidisciplinary team meetings (MDTs) are vital for improved outcomes. In the Netherlands, head and neck cancer care is practiced in eight high-volume head and neck oncologic centers (HNOC) and six affiliated hospitals preferred partner (PP) centers. Patients treated in the PP are presented and discussed in the HNOC. To evaluate the importance of these mandatory and decisive steps in decision making, we have assessed the changes in treatment. Materials and methods: Retrospective evaluation of head and neck cancer patients referred between January 2011 and October 2018 for a MDT evaluation to the HNOC was conducted. The differences in MDT recommendation were classified with regards to major and minor changes. Results: Management recommendation(MR) changed after 113 of 515 MDT discussions within the PP (487 patients; 22%), of which 86 cases (16%) were major changes. In 67 cases (59.3%), escalation of management was recommended, while in 43 cases (38.1%) de-escalation was recommended. Conclusion: There was a high rate of change of MRs, when comparing the PP recommendations with the HNOC recommendations. Since patient and tumor characteristics seem unable to predict these changes, we recommend all patients be seen for a clinical presentation, revision of diagnostics, and MDT discussion in a high volume HNOC.

Breast cancer in the elderly: retrospective study on diagnosis and treatment according to national guidelines.

We set out to investigate the level of accordance of diagnosis and treatment of elderly breast cancer patients with national guidelines and to study predictors of deviation. Data on patient and tumor variables were collected from charts of 166 patients aged 70 years and older, diagnosed at our hospital in 2002-2004. Diagnostic work-up and treatment were compared with guidelines and reasons for deviation were recorded; 122 (74%) patients were diagnosed and treated in accordance with guidelines. Diagnosis was incomplete in 19 patients (11%). Surgery, radiotherapy, and hormonal therapy were withheld in 19 (11%), 11 (7%), and 9 (5%) patients, respectively. Guideline deviation was motivated in 18 patients (11%) (comorbidity n=11, patients' preferences n=5, age n=2), unmotivated in 18 (11%), and undeliberate in 8 (5%). Our study demonstrates that deviation from guidelines in elderly breast cancer patients mainly occurs due to a deliberate adjustment to patient's comorbidity and preference.

[Trends in breast cancer treatment in the elderly at a breast cancer outpatient clinic: guidelines followed better]. / Trends in behandeling borstkanker bij ouderen op een mammapolikliniek: minder vaak operatieve behandeling.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the treatment of resectable breast cancer in elderly patients at Alkmaar Medical Centre, Alkmaar, the Netherlands, before and after the introduction of a multidisciplinary breast cancer consultation (MDC) with the breast cancer team in February 2006. DESIGN: Retrospective. METHOD: The treatment of patients aged 70 and over with newly diagnosed stage I and II resectable breast cancer was monitored during the period 2002-2007. RESULTS: A total of 84% of the 232 studied patients were treated surgically. Adjuvant treatment with radiotherapy, hormone therapy and chemotherapy was given to 88, 91 and 5 patients, respectively. The percentage of patients who underwent first-line surgery decreased significantly, mainly because fewer patients aged 80 or over received surgery. The number of patients given radiotherapy in accordance with guidelines increased, while for hormonal therapy the number remained more or less the same. Recording of decisions that involved deviation from treatment guidelines improved in the study period. CONCLUSION: In 2002-2007, the breast cancer team became more aware of treatment guidelines and deviations from guidelines were better accounted for. In the elderly, the guidelines for adjuvant radiotherapy were followed better, but there was a remarkable decrease in primary surgical treatment of patients, particularly in patients aged 80 and over. Comorbidity and patients' preferences played an important role in this.