title: Influence of a multidisciplinary cancer board on treatment decisions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To clarify how a multidisciplinary cancer board (CB) influences treatment decisions.
  
  
  METHODS
  From March 2010 to June 2011, a total of 475 cases were discussed at our CB and the minutes of the board were reviewed for this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 475 patients, minor changes in treatment methods were made in 42 patients (9 %) and major changes were made in 28 patients (6 %). Further diagnostic procedures, further publication surveys and reconfirmation of patient's wishes were recommended in 80 patients (17 %). In the 392 patients for whom treatment was recommended, the CB's recommendation was realized in 349 patients (89 %) and was not realized in 20 (5 %) patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is obvious that a CB has a great influence on cancer treatment decisions, but the effectiveness of the CB in our hospital should be verified in the future by analyzing treatment outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Yamagata University School of Medicine, 2-2-2 Iida-nishi, Yamagata, 990-9585, Japan. knemoto@ymail.plala.or.jp
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nemoto
authors.forename: Misako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: Mayumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ichikawa
authors.forename: Ibuki
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ohta
authors.forename: Takuma
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nomiya
authors.forename: Mayumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamakawa
authors.forename: Yuriko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Itho
authors.forename: Tadahisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukui
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshioka
mesh_terms: D003657:Decision Making; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007564:Japan; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D010166:Palliative Care; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care