Nomogram reliability for predicting survival in patients with incurable cancer referred for home parenteral nutrition

Abstract

In the presence of bowel obstruction, enterocutaneous fistula, short bowel, or severe mucosal disease, patients with incurable cancer are increasingly being referred for consideration of home parenteral nutrition (HPN). The decision to commence such treatment largely relies on expert opinion rather than robust data showing survival outcome. To address this shortcoming, a nomogram to predict median survival length in palliative cancer patients treated with HPN has been developed and validated.1 The nomogram is based on Glasgow prognostic score (CRP & albumin), primary cancer, metastases and Karnofsky performance status.