title: Clinical practice guidelines for the surgical management of colon cancer: a consensus statement of the Hellenic and Cypriot Colorectal Cancer Study Group by the HeSMO.
abstract: Despite considerable improvement in the management of colon cancer, there is a great deal of variation in the outcomes among European countries, and in particular among different hospital centers in Greece and Cyprus. Discrepancy in the approach strategies and lack of adherence to guidelines for the management of colon cancer may explain the situation. The aim was to elaborate a consensus on the multidisciplinary management of colon cancer, based on European guidelines (ESMO and EURECCA), and also taking into account local special characteristics of our healthcare system. Following discussion and online communication among members of an executive team, a consensus was developed. Statements entered the Delphi voting system on two rounds to achieve consensus by multidisciplinary international experts. Statements with an agreement rate of ≥80% achieved a large consensus, while those with an agreement rate of 60-80% a moderate consensus. Statements achieving an agreement of <60% after both rounds were rejected and not presented. Sixty statements on the management of colon cancer were subjected to the Delphi methodology. Voting experts were 109. The median rate of abstain per statement was 10% (range: 0-41%). In the end of the voting process, all statements achieved a consensus by more than 80% of the experts. A consensus on the management of colon cancer was developed by applying the Delphi methodology. Guidelines are proposed along with algorithms of diagnosis and treatment. The importance of centralization, care by a multidisciplinary team, and adherence to guidelines is emphasized.
authors.affiliation: General Surgery, InterClinic Hospital of Heraklion, Greece (Evaghelos Xynos).
authors.forename: Evaghelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Xynos
authors.affiliation: General Surgery, METROPOLITAN Hospital of Piraeus, Greece (Nikolaos Gouvas).
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gouvas
authors.affiliation: Radiology, Konstantopouleio Hospital of Athens, Greece (Paris Tekkis, Panagiotis Georgiou).
authors.forename: Charina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Triantopoulou
authors.affiliation: Colorectal Surgery, Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK (Paris Tekkis, Pavlos Georgiou).
authors.forename: Paris
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tekkis
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology, Iatriko Center of Athens, Greece (Louiza Vini).
authors.forename: Louiza
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vini
authors.affiliation: Pathology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Greece (Maria Tzardi).
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tzardi
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology, Bioclinic of Thessaloniki, Greece (Ioannis Boukovinas).
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Boukovinas
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology, Venizeleion Hospital of Heraklion, Greece (Nikolaos Androulakis).
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Androulakis
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology, Koutlibaneion Hospital of Larissa, Greece (Athanasios Athanasiadis).
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Athanasiadis
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology, METROPOLITAN Hospital of Piraeus, Greece (Christos Christodoulou).
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Christodoulou
authors.affiliation: Radiology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Greece (Evangelia Chrysou).
authors.forename: Evangelia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chrysou
authors.affiliation: General Surgery, Konstantopouleio Hospital of Athens, Greece (Christos Dervenis).
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dervenis
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology, Interbalkan Medical Center, Thessaloniki, Greece (Christos Emmanouilidis).
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Emmanouilidis
authors.affiliation: Colorectal Surgery, Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK (Paris Tekkis, Pavlos Georgiou).
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Georgiou
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology, Iaso General Hospital, Athens, Greece (Ourania Katopodi).
authors.forename: Ourania
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Katopodi
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology, Oncology Center of Bank of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus (Panteleimon Kountourakis, Demetris Papamichael).
authors.forename: Panteleimon
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kountourakis
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Patras, Greece (Thomas Makatsoris).
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Makatsoris
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology, Ippokrateion Hospital of Athens, Greece (Pavlos Papakostas).
authors.forename: Pavlos
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Papakostas
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology, Oncology Center of Bank of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus (Panteleimon Kountourakis, Demetris Papamichael).
authors.forename: Demetris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Papamichael
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Ioannina, Greece (Georgios Pentheroudakis).
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pentheroudakis
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology, Theageneion Cancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece (Ioannis Pilpilidis).
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pilpilidis
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology, Agioi Anargyroi Hospital of Athens, Greece (Joseph Sgouros).
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sgouros
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology, Oncology Center of Bank of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus (Vassilis Vassiliou).
authors.forename: Vassilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vassiliou
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology, George Gennimatas General Hospital, Athens, Greece (Spyridon Xynogalos).
authors.forename: Spyridon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xynogalos
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology, Metaxas Cancer Hospital, Piraeus, Greece (Nikolaos Ziras).
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ziras
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology, Dexeus University Institute, Barcelona, Spain (Niki Karachaliou).
authors.forename: Niki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Karachaliou
authors.affiliation: Surgical Oncology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Greece (Odysseas Zoras).
authors.forename: Odysseas
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Zoras
authors.affiliation: General Surgery, Athens Naval & Veterans' Hospital, Greece (Christos Agalianos).
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Agalianos
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Greece (John Souglakos).
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Souglakos
keywords: Colon cancer; guidelines; surgery