Implementation, relevance, and virtual adaptation of neuro-oncological tumor boards during the COVID-19 pandemic: a nationwide provider survey - Scorecard - MDSpire
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Implementation, relevance, and virtual adaptation of neuro-oncological tumor boards during the COVID-19 pandemic: a nationwide provider survey
Clinical Scorecard: Adoption, significance, and online modification of neuro-oncology tumor boards amid the COVID-19 crisis: a national provider assessment
At a Glance
Category
Detail
Condition
Neuro-oncological cancers affecting central and peripheral nervous system
Patients with primary brain tumors, brain metastases, and spinal tumors
Care Setting
Academic and non-academic hospitals with neuro-oncology specialty centers in Germany
Key Highlights
Neuro-oncology tumor boards (NTBs) are critical for quality assurance and patient-centered treatment planning in neuro-oncology.
COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digitalization and virtualization of NTBs, enabling broader expert networking and potential inclusion of external centers.
Survey of 65 German neuro-oncology centers showed weekly NTB meetings, mostly established >3 years, with multidisciplinary participation and discussion of primary brain tumors and metastases.
Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Discuss all patients with primary brain tumors in NTBs.
Include brain metastases and spinal tumors in NTB discussions.
Management
Conduct NTBs on a weekly basis to ensure continuous multidisciplinary collaboration.
Establish NTBs led by neuro-oncologists for patient-centered treatment planning.
Utilize teleconferencing and virtual platforms to include external and satellite centers.
Monitoring & Follow-up
Maintain documentation and standardization of NTB implementation and proceedings.
Regularly evaluate NTB impact on clinical practice and adherence to treatment guidelines.
Risks
Heterogeneity in MTB implementation and documentation may affect quality of care.
Limited participation of external centers can reduce consensus and quality assurance.
Patient & Prescribing Data
Patients with neuro-oncological tumors treated at academic and non-academic centers in Germany
Survival advantage observed in patients treated at high-volume and academic centers with established NTBs.
Clinical Best Practices
Implement weekly neuro-oncology tumor boards with multidisciplinary teams including neuro-oncologists.
Leverage digital and virtual platforms to enhance participation and networking, especially post-COVID-19.
Ensure continuous education and guideline adherence through NTB discussions.
Standardize documentation and procedures of NTBs to reduce heterogeneity.
Encourage involvement of affiliated satellite and external centers to broaden expert input.
by Niklas Schäfer, Elisabeth Bumes, Fabian Eberle, Viola Fox, Florian Gessler, Frank A. Giordano, Juergen Konczalla, Julia Onken, Malte Ottenhausen, Moritz Scherer, Matthias Schneider, Hartmut Vatter, Ulrich Herrlinger, Patrick Schuss
