Tumor Board
TUMOR BOARDS (MULTIDISCIPLINARY ONCOLOGY COMMITTEES)
Since its establishment, Emsey Hospital has continued to be one of the leading centers in healthcare with its advanced technological infrastructure, experienced medical staff, and patient-centered service approach. Particularly in the field of Hematology, the hospital aims to determine the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment plans for each cancer patient based on their individual characteristics through a multidisciplinary care model.
At the core of this approach is the Tumor Board, a professional platform where physicians from different medical specialties regularly come together to evaluate cases from multiple perspectives and make evidence-based clinical decisions.
Purpose of the Tumor Board
At Emsey Hospital, the primary purpose of Tumor Boards is to ensure that the diagnostic, treatment, and follow-up processes of cancer patients are managed through a scientific, up-to-date, and holistic approach.
Through the Tumor Boards:
- Each patient is evaluated based on the collective opinion of multiple medical specialties;
- Treatment options are discussed in line with international clinical guidelines and the latest scientific literature;
- Decisions are documented in the patient’s medical record within the framework of a personalized treatment approach;
- Interdisciplinary communication among physicians is strengthened and the margin of error is minimized;
- Patients receive a safe and reliable treatment plan developed through the shared expertise of different specialists.
How Does the Tumor Board Work?
At Emsey Hospital, Tumor Boards convene regularly on designated days of the week. During each meeting, patients’ clinical information, imaging findings, pathology reports, and, when necessary, molecular test results are thoroughly reviewed.
The Tumor Boards include specialists from the following disciplines:
- Hematology
- Medical Oncology
- Radiation Oncology
- Radiology
- Pathology
- Surgical Specialties (General Surgery, Otorhinolaryngology/ENT, Pediatric Surgery, Neurosurgery, Orthopedics and Traumatology)
- Nuclear Medicine
- Interventional Radiology
- Internal Medicine
- Pediatrics
Duties and Responsibilities of Tumor Board Members
Tumor Board Chair:
Ensures the effective organization and conduct of Tumor Board meetings, prepares the meeting agenda, evaluates whether the decisions taken are in accordance with international clinical guidelines, and is responsible for documenting and reporting the outcomes of the meetings.
Responsible Physician:
Presents the patient to the Tumor Board, prepares and provides all laboratory tests, diagnostic studies, and imaging examinations performed both within the hospital and at external centers, and shares the patient’s clinical information with the board. Together with the patient, reviews the decisions made by the Tumor Board, formulates the final treatment plan to be implemented, and keeps the patient informed about treatment outcomes and the results of subsequent evaluations.
Tumor Boards Available at Emsey Hospital
At Emsey Hospital, the following Tumor Boards are established, bringing together expert physicians from relevant specialties for the evaluation and management of different types of cancer:
- Hematology
- Oncology
- Nuclear Medicine
- Otorhinolaryngology (Ear, Nose and Throat – ENT)
- Radiation Oncology
- Pulmonology (Chest Diseases)
- General Surgery
- Radiology
- Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
- Urology
- Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology
- Pathology
- Orthopedics and Traumatology
- Pediatric Surgery
- Neurosurgery (Brain, Spine, and Peripheral Nerve Surgery)
Meeting Frequency and Case Evaluation
Tumor Board meetings are held on a weekly basis, with a minimum of 45 cases discussed at each session. All patients who are newly diagnosed, require a change in their treatment strategy, or present with a complex clinical course are evaluated by the relevant Tumor Boards. In addition, the progress of patients who were previously discussed and for whom decisions were made is shared and reviewed during the meetings.
Patient Satisfaction and Benefits of the Multidisciplinary Approach
Patients report a high level of satisfaction with treatment plans determined through the joint decision-making of multiple specialists.
Through this approach:
- The treatment process becomes safer and more reliable;
- Unnecessary diagnostic tests and treatments are avoided;
- Clinical decisions are made in line with the most up-to-date scientific evidence;
- Initiation of car-t cell therapies is planned in the near future.
