Author of

• 11001

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  P1.24 - Poster Session 1 - Clinical Care (ID 146)

  • Event: WCLC 2013
  • Type: Poster Session
  • Track: Supportive Care
  • Presentations: 1
  • Moderators:
  • Coordinates: 10/28/2013, 09:30 - 16:30, Exhibit Hall, Ground Level

  • 11044

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    P1.24-043 - Results of a Multidisciplinary Team in the Management of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in a Developing Country (ID 3041)

    09:30 - 09:30  |  Author(s): M. Villalobos
    • Abstract

    Background
    Lung cancer has the highest cancer-related mortality in the World. In developing countries, mortality rates tend to be higher due to deficits of diagnostic and professional resources, and long time intervals between patient’s symptoms and the initiation of treatment. Multidisciplinary teams improve the care of patients with NSCLC, but this practice is not common in developing countries. In Costa Rica more than 90% of cancer patients are treated in a public hospital where resources are limited. To improve patient care a weekly multidisciplinary thoracic oncology meeting was organized in Hospital San Juan de Dios, one of Costa Rica’s three adult general hospitals. This hospital is responsible for the management of more than 40% of Costa Rica’s cancer patients.

    Methods
    A multidisciplinary team including Medical Oncology, Pneumology, Pathology, Thoracic Surgery, Radiology and Radiation Oncology started to meet in a weekly basis since November 2011. All patients with a possible lung cancer in the hospital were evaluated by the team and recommendations were given. Data of patients with NSCLC seen by the multidisciplinary team during 2012 was compared to a historic data of NSCLC patients diagnosed in the same hospital between 2003 and 2008 when there was no multidisciplinary team involved in patient care. Exclusion criteria included insufficient clinical information. Epidemiologic data was analyzed and survival curves were obtained.

    Results
    In the periods 2003-2008 and 2012, 92 and 39 patients respectively with NSCLC were included for analysis. Epidemiologic results are summarized in Table 1 and overall survival is plotted in Figure 1. Figure 1 Figure 2

    Conclusion
    The inclusion of a multidisciplinary team in the management of NSCLC lead to an earlier diagnosis and increased survival of patients. This approach should be considered in the management of NSCLC patients in a developing country.