Resident University of Miami Miller School of Medicine University of Miami Miami, FL, US
Disclosure(s):
Adham M. Khalafallah, MD: No financial relationships to disclose
Introduction: Spine tumors are debilitating, necessitating a multidisciplinary approach to optimize management based on prognostic factors. Interdisciplinary tumor boards offer a forum for re-evaluating patient imaging and obtaining input from various specialties to determine the best treatment strategy. This study presents preliminary findings on the efficacy and group dynamics of an interdisciplinary spine tumor board.
Methods: We conducted a prospective study of patients discussed at a monthly joint spine tumor board between May to September 2024. For each case, the presenting physician provided a brief case summary, followed by a radiological review of relevant imaging, and interdisciplinary faculty contributed their thoughts. Data on specialty participation, patient demographics, tumor characteristics, and outcomes of case discussions were recorded and analyzed.
Results: A total of 19 cases were discussed over the course of 4 tumor board meetings, with an average of 4.75 cases presented at each meeting. Each discussion lasted an average of 9.25 minutes. On average, 11 faculty members attended each meeting, representing neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, neuro-radiology, interventional radiology, and radiation oncology. Neurosurgery presented the majority of cases (57.9%), followed by orthopedic surgery (26.3%), and radiation oncology (15.8%). Surgical intervention (63.2%) was the most common pre-conference primary treatment plan, followed by continued surveillance (15.8%) and radiation therapy (10.5%). The tumor board proposed changes in management for 63.2% of cases. Among cases with a pre-conference surgical treatment plan, modifications were proposed in 58.3% of cases. Of these modifications, 42.9% involved replacing surgical intervention with a less invasive treatment option.
Conclusion : Our interdisciplinary spine tumor board facilitated active collaboration among specialties, frequently leading to improvements in management plans for spine tumor patients. These findings underscore the value of multidisciplinary discussion in optimizing treatment for complex spine tumors.