Advancing Care for Head and Neck Cancers in a Multidisciplinary Tumour Board in the East.

V H F Lee, J Y W Chan, V Vardhanabhuti, D L W Kwong, T W Leung, S Y Chan, C C Tong, Z Y Xu, L Shen, A W M Lee

Journal: Clinical oncology (Royal College of Radiologists (Great Britain)) 2020;31(8):549-559

PMID: 31279432

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

Managing head and neck cancers is an excellent example of the importance of teamwork, with head and neck surgeons, clinical oncologists, radiologists, pathologists and other allied health professionals specialised in this disease site working together. The reliable imaging and dedicated pretreatment work-up entailing the comprehensive anatomical description of tumour involvement by the radiologists, the expertise of surgeons in performing en-bloc gross tumour resection, the uneventful speedy postoperative rehabilitation and recovery by the speech therapists and nutritionists, as well as the dedicated treatment planning of clinical oncologists in delivering precise preoperative or postoperative (chemo)radiotherapy to maximise the therapeutic potentials are the pillars of treatment success. A multidisciplinary tumour board involving all of these key players is essential to provide the highest level of recommendation based on evidence-based medicine and to bring patients new hopes and the best chance of cure. This review illustrates the seamless collaborative teamwork within a well-established multidisciplinary tumour board in managing one of the most intractable cancers in the East, taking enlightenment and inspiration from the West.

Address: Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Clinical Oncology Center, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China. Electronic address: [email protected].; Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.; Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Department of Medical Imaging, Clinical Oncology Center, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.; Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Clinical Oncology Center, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.; Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.; Clinical Oncology Center, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.

DOI: 10.1016/j.clon.2019.05.023

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MeSH Terms: Asia, Eastern, Head and Neck Neoplasms, Humans, Patient Care Planning, Treatment Outcome