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Initial impact of a systematic multidisciplinary approach on the management of patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumor

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Abstract

According to the international guidelines, a multidisciplinary approach is currently advised for the optimal care of patients with a gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (GEP NET). In our institution (tertiary care center), a systematic multidisciplinary approach was established in May 2007. In this study, we have aimed to assess the initial impact of establishing a systematic multidisciplinary approach to the management of GEP NET patients. We have collected and compared the biochemical, imaging, and pathological data and the therapeutic strategies in GEP NET patients diagnosed, treated, or followed-up from January 1993 to April 2007 versus GEP NET patients attending our institution after the multidisciplinary approach starting, from May 2007 to October 2008. Data of 91 patients before and 42 patients after the establishment of the multidisciplinary approach (total: 133 consecutive GEP NET patients) have been finally collected and analyzed. Before the establishment of the multidisciplinary approach, a lack of consistency in the biochemical, imaging, and pathological findings before treatment initiation as well as during follow-up of GEP NET patients was identified. These inconsistencies have been reduced by the systematic multidisciplinary approach. In addition, the therapeutic management of GEP NET patients has been altered by the multidisciplinary approach and became more consistent with recommended guidelines. We think that a systematic multidisciplinary approach significantly impacts on GEP NET patient care and should be established in all centers dealing with these tumors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology & Diabetes Mellitus, St Vincent’s University Hospital–University College Dublin, 4 Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland

    Gianluca Tamagno, Lisa McGowan & Donal O’Shea

  2. Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, St Vincent’s University Hospital–University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    Kieran Sheahan & Niall Swan

  3. Department of Radiology, St Vincent’s University Hospital–University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    Stephen J. Skehan, Conor D. Collins, David P. Brophy & Colin Cantwell

  4. Liver Transplant Unit, St Vincent’s University Hospital–University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    Justin G. Geoghegan, Donal Maguire & Oscar Traynor

  5. Department of Medical Oncology, St Vincent’s University Hospital–University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    David Fennelly

  6. Department of Gastroenterology, St James’s Hospital–Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    Dermot O’Toole

Authors
  1. Gianluca Tamagno
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  2. Kieran Sheahan
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  4. Justin G. Geoghegan
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  7. Donal Maguire
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  8. Oscar Traynor
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  9. David P. Brophy
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  10. Colin Cantwell
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  14. Donal O’Shea
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Correspondence to Gianluca Tamagno.

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Tamagno, G., Sheahan, K., Skehan, S.J. et al. Initial impact of a systematic multidisciplinary approach on the management of patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. Endocrine 44, 504–509 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-013-9910-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-013-9910-5

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