Effect of multidisciplinary tumor conference on clinical management of rectal cancer.

Abstract

749 Background: Presentation of rectal cancer cases at a multidisciplinary tumor conference (MTC) is a required standard for the newly formed National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer. However, its impact on clinical decision-making remains incompletely defined. Our aim was to determine the frequency and manner in which MTC changed the management of patients with rectal cancer at a tertiary academic center. Methods: All rectal cancer cases presented at the weekly Colorectal Cancer MTC between July 2015 and June 2016 at a single institution were prospectively included. Patient demographics and clinical information were recorded. The presenting physician completed a uniform written questionnaire outlining their plan before and after the MTC discussion, and any changes in management as a result of the discussion. Imaging and pathology were reviewed for each case at MTC and consistency with prior interpretation was recorded. Results: 234 unique initial rectal cancer cases were included. Survey responses were obtained for 212 cases (90.6%). The mean patient age was 58.3 years. 37 patients (15.8%) presented with Stage IV disease and 20 (9.4%) had locally recurrent cancer. There was a documented change in plan as a result of the MTC discussion in 70 of 212 (33%) cases surveyed, including 22 cases (10.4%) in which the presenting physician had a “definitive plan” prior to the MTC. Changes in management included a change in therapy or change in therapy sequence in 45 cases (64%), and recommendation of further evaluation in 26 cases (37%). Change in management following MTC did not vary by surgeon experience: it occurred in 31.4%, 37.2% and 29.8% of cases presented by surgeons with < 10, 10-20, and ≥ 20 years of experience respectively (Chi-square p= 0.71). The imaging or pathology review at MTC resulted in a different interpretation than previously reported in 23% and 12% of cases, respectively. Conclusions: MTC changes clinical management for a significant portion of rectal cancer patients at a tertiary care center, independent of the presenting surgeons’ years of clinical experience. Our results highlight the utility of multidisciplinary rectal cancer care and support the MTC standard for the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer.