2Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario ?A. Gemelli? IRCCS, Radiation Oncology and Hematology, U.O.C. of Radiation Oncology Therapy, Rome-Italy
3Sacred Heart Catholic University, Institute of Radiology, Rome-Italy
4Fondazione Policlinico Universitario ?A. Gemelli? IRCCS, Digestive Endoscopy Unit, Rome-Italy
5Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital Clinic I Universitari, Barcelona-Spain
6Sacred Heart Catholic University, Educational Program Director Gemelli-INTERACTS, Rome-Italy DOI : 10.5505/tjo.2022.2819 OBJECTIVE< br> Interventional oncology (IO) offers minimal invasive oncological procedures to personalize therapeutic approaches. We aimed at assessing potential advantages of an IO multidisciplinary tumor board (INTER-BOARD) in terms of waiting time, procedural adverse events, and length of hospital stay.
METHODS
We retrospectively evaluated all patients managed at our institutional INTER-BOARD from January
2018 to June 2019. Outcome measurements such as number of patients managed in each semester, median
interval time between initial assessment and admission to the hospital, total number of procedures,
procedures type, adverse events, and complication-related days of hospital stay were analyzed.
RESULTS
The INTER-BOARD discussed 438 patients (mean age 64 years; range 27-92) during the study period.
Overall, 203 procedures were performed in patients >65 years and 49 in patients >80 years. The number
of patients discussed progressively increased over time 82 (18.7%) during the first semester, 120 (27.4%)
during the second semester, and 236 (54.1%) in the third semester. Patients with 33 different cancer
types were discussed and 22 different procedure types were performed. Mean hospitalization time was 4
days (progressively decreasing over time from 5 to 3 days). Adverse events occurred in 4% of cases, with
a progressively decreasing rate over time (16%, 5%, and 3% for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd semester, respectively).
CONCLUSION
In our experience, the dedicated INTER-BOARD allowed optimization of patient care through critical
evaluation of all treatment options offered by different specialists. This approach reached optimal treatment
results, with low adverse events, and reduced waiting, as well as hospitalization time.