title: The role of multi-disciplinary teams in decision-making for patients with recurrent malignant disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is mandatory in many countries for decisions for all new patients with cancer to be made within multi-disciplinary teams (MDTs). Whether patients with disease recurrence should also routinely be discussed by the MDT is unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the role of an upper gastro intestinal (UGI) MDT in decision-making for patients with disease recurrence.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of prospectively kept MDT records (2010 to 2011) was performed identifying patients discussed with recurrence of oesophagogastric cancer. Information was recorded about: i) why an MDT referral was made, ii) who made the referral and iii) the final MDT recommendation. Implementation of the MDT recommendation was also examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients discussed with recurrence of cancer at a central UGI cancer MDT were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study 54 MDT meetings included discussions regarding 304 new patients and 29 with disease recurrence. Referrals to the MDT for patients with recurrence came from outpatient clinics (n=19, 65.5%) or following emergency admission (n=10). Most referrals were made by the surgical team (n=25, 86.2%). MDT recommendations were best supportive care (n=11, 37.9%), palliative chemotherapy (n=9, 31.0%), stent (n=5, 17.2%), palliative radiotherapy (n=3, 10.3%) and further surgery (n=1, 3.4%), with 25 (86.2%) of these implemented.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  UGI MDTs focus on new referrals and only a small proportion of patients with recurrent disease are re-discussed. Many patients go on to receive further treatments. Whether such patients are optimally managed within the standard MDT is uncertain, however, and warrants further consideration.
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Community Medicine, Canynge Hall, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Strong
authors.forename: Natalie S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Blencowe
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: Colette
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Crosby
authors.forename: Hugo E R
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: Jane M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Blazeby
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000628:therapy*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D012189:Retrospective Studies