Abstract
ObjectivesMultidisciplinary tumour boards (MTBs) play an increasingly important role in managing cancer patients from diagnosis to treatment. However, many problems arise around the organisation of MTBs, both in terms of organisation-administration and time management. In this context, the European Society of Oncologic Imaging (ESOI) conducted a survey among its members, aimed at assessing the quality and amount of involvement of radiologists in MTBs, their role in it and related issues.MethodsAll members were invited to fill in a questionnaire consisting of 15 questions with both open and multiple-choice answers. Simple descriptive analyses and graphs were performed.ResultsA total of 292 ESOI members in full standing for the year 2018 joined the survey. Most respondents (89%) declared to attend MT-Bs, but only 114 respondents (43.9%) review over 70% of exams prior to MTB meetings, mainly due to lack of time due to a busy schedule for imaging and reporting (46.6%). Perceived benefits (i.e. surgical and histological feedback (86.9%), improved knowledge of cancer treatment (82.7%) and better interaction between radiologists and referring clinicians for discussing rare cases (56.9%)) and issues (i.e. attending MTB meetings during regular working hours (71.9%) and lack of accreditation with continuing medical education (CME) (85%)) are reported.ConclusionsDespite the value and benefits of radiologists’ participation in MTBs, issues like improper preparation due to a busy schedule and no counterpart in CME accreditation require efforts to improve the role of radiologists for a better patient care.Key Points• Most radiologists attend multidisciplinary tumour boards, but less than half of them review images in advance, mostly due to time constraints.• Feedback about radiological diagnoses, improved knowledge of cancer treatment and interaction with referring clinicians are perceived as major benefits.• Concerns were expressed about scheduling multidisciplinary tumour boards during regular working hours and lack of accreditation with continuing medical education.
Highlights
A multidisciplinary team is defined by the National Cancer Institute as a “treatment planning approach in which a number of doctors who are experts in different specialties review and discuss the medical condition and treatment options of a patient” [1]
Feedback about radiological diagnoses, improved knowledge of cancer treatment and interaction with referring clinicians are perceived as major benefits
Concerns were expressed about scheduling multidisciplinary tumour boards during regular working hours and lack of accreditation with continuing medical education
Summary
A multidisciplinary team is defined by the National Cancer Institute as a “treatment planning approach in which a number of doctors who are experts in different specialties (disciplines) review and discuss the medical condition and treatment options of a patient” [1]. Oncologic multidisciplinary teams are known as “multidisciplinary tumour boards” (MTBs) and their core composition may vary depending on the cancer type, but it generally includes clinical oncologists, surgeons, pathologists, diagnostic and interventional radiologists, palliative care physicians and radiation oncologists [2, 3]. Specialists like radiologists or pathologists involved in the management of different types of cancer usually spend a substantial amount of time to prepare meetings, which adds significantly to their workload [10]
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