title: The effect of a Radiology Conference consultation on cancer patients management.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The quantitative effect of consultation on cancer patient's management at a Radiology Conference was studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study included consecutive patients presented at the Radiology Conference of the Division of Oncology. Following the case presentation and discussion, the patient's oncologist completed a questionnaire which asked whether the consultation at the conference added new information regarding the patient's disease status, whether it influenced patient management and, if so, to what extent.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three hundred and eighty-three patients were included in the study. Significant new information was added for 189 (49%) patients and less consequential information was added for 134 (35%) patients. Major changes in management occurred in 143 (37%) patients after the Radiology Conference and minor changes were made in 56 (15%) patients. The influence of the cancer type on the rate of significant change in treatment and on the rate of major information addition was not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consultation at a Radiological Conference in a tertiary center led to major changes in the management of 37% of the cancer patients presented and provided important information regarding the patient's disease in up to 50% of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, USA; Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Rambam Health Cancer Campus. Electronic address: obrook@bidmc.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: O R
authors.initials: OR
authors.lastname: Brook
authors.affiliation: Rappaport Faculty of Medicine.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hakmon
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics, Technion-Institute of Technology.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brook
authors.affiliation: Division of Oncology, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dudnik
authors.affiliation: Rappaport Faculty of Medicine; Division of Oncology, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuten
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Rambam Health Cancer Campus; Rappaport Faculty of Medicine.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Engel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011872:Radiology Department, Hospital; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration*; D055815:Young Adult