Comprehensive breast cancer adjuvant digital summary.
BACKGROUND
Patients with breast cancer often fail to recall the details of their original diagnosis and adjuvant therapy with the passage of time. Subsequent follow-up and treatment at a later time and a different institution wastes valuable time and effort to retrieve the original data.


METHODS
Twenty-five consecutive patients with breast cancer of all stages admitted for adjuvant/neoadjuvant treatment and surgical excision were entered on study. An individualized comprehensive visual evaluation summary sheet (VESS) was created that detailed initial diagnosis, preceding relevant investigations, drug scheduling, and dosages of adjuvant therapy. Completion of a VESS required a computer, a digital camera with connection to a microscope, and radiology images over the PACS system. The completed one-page summary can be printed or stored.


RESULTS
A VESS takes up an average of 4.4 MB (1.24-8 MB), each containing 11.5 images (range, 4-23 images), spanning a time period of around 216 days (range, 125-558 days).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients received a complete summary of pertinent information concerning their diagnosis and adjuvant therapy.
Liu
Jacqueline Ming
JM
National Cancer Research Institute, National Health Research Institutes, Taipei, Taiwan. jmliuWnhri.org.tw
Wu
Hsiao Wei
HW
Tiu
Chui Mei
CM
Tseng
Ling Ming
LM
Yen
Sang Hue
SH
Shiau
Cheng Ying
CY
Lan
Chieh
C
Li
Anna Fen Yau
AF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008327:Mammography; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D011873:Radiology Information Systems; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed