Changes in multidisciplinary team decisions in a high volume head and neck oncological center following those made in its preferred partner.

Objective: Head and neck cancer care is highly complex, and multidisciplinary team meetings (MDTs) are vital for improved outcomes. In the Netherlands, head and neck cancer care is practiced in eight high-volume head and neck oncologic centers (HNOC) and six affiliated hospitals preferred partner (PP) centers. Patients treated in the PP are presented and discussed in the HNOC.

[Trends in breast cancer treatment in the elderly at a breast cancer outpatient clinic: guidelines followed better].

Objective: To investigate the treatment of resectable breast cancer in elderly patients at Alkmaar Medical Centre, Alkmaar, the Netherlands, before and after the introduction of a multidisciplinary breast cancer consultation (MDC) with the breast cancer team in February 2006.

Design: Retrospective.

Method: The treatment of patients aged 70 and over with newly diagnosed stage I and II resectable breast cancer was monitored during the period 2002-2007.

Breast cancer in the elderly: retrospective study on diagnosis and treatment according to national guidelines.

We set out to investigate the level of accordance of diagnosis and treatment of elderly breast cancer patients with national guidelines and to study predictors of deviation. Data on patient and tumor variables were collected from charts of 166 patients aged 70 years and older, diagnosed at our hospital in 2002-2004. Diagnostic work-up and treatment were compared with guidelines and reasons for deviation were recorded; 122 (74%) patients were diagnosed and treated in accordance with guidelines.