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Multidisciplinary discussion and management of rectal cancer : a population-based study

Swellengrebel, H A M ; Peters, E G ; Cats, A ; Visser, O ; Blaauwgeers, H G T ; Verwaal, V J LU ; van Velthuysen, M L ; Cense, H A ; Bruin, S C and Marijnen, C A M (2011) In World Journal of Surgery 35(9). p.33-2125
Abstract

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the value of discussing rectal cancer patients in a multidisciplinary team (MDT).

METHODS: All treated rectal cancer patients (>T1M0) diagnosed in 2006-2008 were included. According to the national guidelines, neoadjuvant (chemo)radiotherapy should be given to all rectal cancer patients. Patients were scored as "discussed" (MDT+) only if documented proof was available. The primary endpoint was the number of positive circumferential resection margins (CRM ≤ 1 mm).

RESULTS: Of the 275 patients included, 210 were analyzed (exclusions: (recto)sigmoid tumor, acute laparotomy, and inoperability). Neoadjuvant treatment was applied in 174 (83%) patients and followed by... (More)

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the value of discussing rectal cancer patients in a multidisciplinary team (MDT).

METHODS: All treated rectal cancer patients (>T1M0) diagnosed in 2006-2008 were included. According to the national guidelines, neoadjuvant (chemo)radiotherapy should be given to all rectal cancer patients. Patients were scored as "discussed" (MDT+) only if documented proof was available. The primary endpoint was the number of positive circumferential resection margins (CRM ≤ 1 mm).

RESULTS: Of the 275 patients included, 210 were analyzed (exclusions: (recto)sigmoid tumor, acute laparotomy, and inoperability). Neoadjuvant treatment was applied in 174 (83%) patients and followed by total mesorectal excision in 171 (81%) patients. Patients considered not to require downstaging, received short-course radiotherapy (SCRT) (n = 116) or no radiotherapy (no RT) (n = 36), whereas 58 more advanced patients received chemoradiotherapy (CRT). The MDT discussion took place in 116 cases (55%). In the MDT+ group an MRI was used more often (p = 0.001) and TNM staging was more complete (p < 0.001). The proportion of patients with advanced disease was higher in the MDT+ group (88% ≥T3/N+ versus 68%; p = 0.001). The overall CRM+ rate was 13% and did not differ between the MDT+ and the MDT- group (p = 0.392). In patients receiving SCRT or no RT, the CRM+ rate was 10%, whereas the rate was 20% for patients receiving CRT.

CONCLUSIONS: Although no difference in CRM+ rate was found for those patients who were discussed and those who were not, our results demonstrate room for improvement, especially in the selection of patients for SCRT or no RT. We advocate standardized documentation of treatment decisions and pathology reports.

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author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
keywords
Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Chemoradiotherapy/methods, Cohort Studies, Colectomy/methods, Community Health Planning, Disease-Free Survival, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Interdisciplinary Communication, Male, Middle Aged, Neoadjuvant Therapy, Neoplasm Invasiveness/pathology, Neoplasm Staging, Netherlands, Patient Care Team/organization & administration, Patient Selection, Rectal Neoplasms/mortality, Retrospective Studies, Survival Analysis, Treatment Outcome
in
World Journal of Surgery
volume
35
issue
9
pages
33 - 2125
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:80052264755
  • pmid:21720869
ISSN
1432-2323
DOI
10.1007/s00268-011-1181-9
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
30648e72-d72e-4d1e-8230-c797cd70f7ff
date added to LUP
2022-04-05 11:16:03
date last changed
2024-01-03 09:36:53
@article{30648e72-d72e-4d1e-8230-c797cd70f7ff,
  abstract     = {{<p>BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the value of discussing rectal cancer patients in a multidisciplinary team (MDT).</p><p>METHODS: All treated rectal cancer patients (&gt;T1M0) diagnosed in 2006-2008 were included. According to the national guidelines, neoadjuvant (chemo)radiotherapy should be given to all rectal cancer patients. Patients were scored as "discussed" (MDT+) only if documented proof was available. The primary endpoint was the number of positive circumferential resection margins (CRM ≤ 1 mm).</p><p>RESULTS: Of the 275 patients included, 210 were analyzed (exclusions: (recto)sigmoid tumor, acute laparotomy, and inoperability). Neoadjuvant treatment was applied in 174 (83%) patients and followed by total mesorectal excision in 171 (81%) patients. Patients considered not to require downstaging, received short-course radiotherapy (SCRT) (n = 116) or no radiotherapy (no RT) (n = 36), whereas 58 more advanced patients received chemoradiotherapy (CRT). The MDT discussion took place in 116 cases (55%). In the MDT+ group an MRI was used more often (p = 0.001) and TNM staging was more complete (p &lt; 0.001). The proportion of patients with advanced disease was higher in the MDT+ group (88% ≥T3/N+ versus 68%; p = 0.001). The overall CRM+ rate was 13% and did not differ between the MDT+ and the MDT- group (p = 0.392). In patients receiving SCRT or no RT, the CRM+ rate was 10%, whereas the rate was 20% for patients receiving CRT.</p><p>CONCLUSIONS: Although no difference in CRM+ rate was found for those patients who were discussed and those who were not, our results demonstrate room for improvement, especially in the selection of patients for SCRT or no RT. We advocate standardized documentation of treatment decisions and pathology reports.</p>}},
  author       = {{Swellengrebel, H A M and Peters, E G and Cats, A and Visser, O and Blaauwgeers, H G T and Verwaal, V J and van Velthuysen, M L and Cense, H A and Bruin, S C and Marijnen, C A M}},
  issn         = {{1432-2323}},
  keywords     = {{Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Chemoradiotherapy/methods; Cohort Studies; Colectomy/methods; Community Health Planning; Disease-Free Survival; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Interdisciplinary Communication; Male; Middle Aged; Neoadjuvant Therapy; Neoplasm Invasiveness/pathology; Neoplasm Staging; Netherlands; Patient Care Team/organization & administration; Patient Selection; Rectal Neoplasms/mortality; Retrospective Studies; Survival Analysis; Treatment Outcome}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{9}},
  pages        = {{33--2125}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{World Journal of Surgery}},
  title        = {{Multidisciplinary discussion and management of rectal cancer : a population-based study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00268-011-1181-9}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s00268-011-1181-9}},
  volume       = {{35}},
  year         = {{2011}},
}