articles and guidelines to back up the need

How to receive a second opinion from a specialized Sarcoma center and get it covered
Post Reply
Olga
Admin
Posts: 2349
Joined: Mon Jun 26, 2006 11:46 pm
Location: Vancouver, Canada

articles and guidelines to back up the need

Post by Olga »

NCCN Oncology Practice Guidelines for Sarcoma.

The Sarcoma Guidelines 2008 page 5 of 51 of the pdf
states:
Essential:
All patients should be managed by a multidisciplinary team with expertise in sarcoma. Here is the link.

http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physi ... arcoma.pdf

and some others for good measure.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8664040

The importance of a multidisciplinary group in the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas. Wiklund T, Huuhtanen R, Blomqvist C, Tukiainen E, Virolainen M, Virkkunen P, Asko-Seljavaara S, BjЖrkenheim JM, Elomaa I.
Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Helsinki University Hospital, Finland.
In 1987, a multidisciplinary soft tissue sarcoma (STS) group was established and a treatment protocol was set up. By 1993, there were 193 patients with a diagnosis of STS of the superficial trunk or extremities. 134 patients were referred with primary (stage M0) tumours and treated with curative or palliative intention. Nine amputations were performed. 94 (70%) patients were treated with wide or compartment surgery (n = 62) or marginal surgery combined with postoperative radiotherapy (n = 32). According to the protocol, these patients had received adequate treatment. 18 patients have recurred locally (13%) (median follow-up: 36 months). 12 were salvaged. 33 had metastases. The estimated 3-year survival, local control and disease-free survival rates are 79, 87 and 69%, respectively. These results compare favourably with previously published results from this hospital and from a nationwide study. The improved results emphasise the importance of a multidisciplinary STS group.
PMID: 8664040 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Here's another one. Too lengthy to copy
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articl ... id=1113522

Improving the management of soft tissue sarcoma
Diagnosis and treatment should be given in specialist centres

and another one.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1727 ... rom=pubmed

Soft tissue sarcoma: An overview. Goldberg BR.
Department of Orthopaedics, Mayo Clinic Arizona, 5777 East Mayo Boulevard, Phoenix, AZ 85259, USA.
Malignancy of soft tissue, referred to as sarcomas, are some of the rarest tumors in medicine. These tumors account for approximately 1% of all diagnosed malignancies. Diagnosis of soft tissue sarcoma (STS) is a complex process that includes history and physical examination of patient, diagnostic imaging studies, and biopsy when indicated. All clinicians should be able to identify the unique characteristics of malignant soft tissue tumors and assist patients with obtaining care from a specialist in the treatment of STS. Evidence-based medicine has shown that the critical difference in treating STSs is a multidisciplinary approach.
PMID: 17273099 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Olga
Post Reply

Return to “Second opinion from a sarcoma center”