[Variations in the treatment of non-metastatic muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma].

Objective: To gain insight into variations in treatment policy for patients with non-metastatic muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma.

Design: Retrospective observational cohort study.

Method: A total of 232 patients with non-metastatic muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma in the region of the Comprehensive Cancer Centre the Netherlands, location Leiden in the Netherlands in the period 2003-2005, were examined to ascertain whether treatment guidelines had been adhered to and which factors contributed to variations in policy.

Predictive value of geriatric assessment for patients older than 70 years, treated with chemotherapy.

Introduction: Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) gives useful information on the functional status of older cancer patients. However, its meaning for a proper selection of elderly patients before chemotherapy and, even more important, the influence of chemotherapy on the outcome of geriatric assessment is unknown.

Methods: 202 cancer patients, for whom an indication for chemotherapy was made by the medical oncologist, underwent a GA before start of chemotherapy by Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE), Groningen Frailty Index (GFI) and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE).

Improved diagnosis and treatment of soft tissue sarcoma patients after implementation of national guidelines: a population-based study.

Aim: The majority of clinicians, radiologists and pathologists have limited experience with soft tissue sarcomas. In 2004, national guidelines were established in The Netherlands to improve the quality of diagnosis and treatment of these rare tumours. This study evaluates the compliance with the guidelines over time.

Family history is neglected in the work-up of patients with colorectal cancer: a quality assessment using cancer registry data.

In the diagnostic work-up of hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC, Lynch syndrome), high-risk patients can be identified using information from the family history on cancer ('Amsterdam criteria' and 'Bethesda guidelines'). To investigate to what extent the medical specialists apply these criteria to patients with colorectal carcinoma and a suspicion of HNPCC, we collected information on diagnostic work-up of 224 patients of seven hospitals in the region of the Comprehensive Cancer Centre West in Leiden, The Netherlands. These patients were diagnosed with colorectal cancer between 1999 and 2001 and satisfied at least one of the Bethesda guidelines.