{"title":"Expert Pathology for Gestational Trophoblastic Disease: Towards an International Multidisciplinary Team Meeting.","authors":"Baljeet Kaur, Alfons Nadal, Carla Bartosch, Anne-Laure Rougemont","doi":"10.1159/000536028","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD), comprising hydatidiform moles and gestational trophoblastic tumours, is extremely rare. Exact diagnosis is crucial to indicate the appropriate treatment and to prevent complications. The scarcity and variability in the number of cases available for reporting, lack of specialised training in GTD, and non-existence of refresher courses implies that the pathologist dealing with these rare and, at times, extremely challenging cases is not completely confident in their diagnosis.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The objective of this study was to explore the benefits of implementation of an international multidisciplinary conference (virtual) to aid diagnosis of difficult cases and support clinical management of GTD.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A short survey was circulated to all 46 members of the EOTTD pathology and genetics working party and further spread to other colleagues who practice GTD. This showed that the pathologists and geneticists working with GTD patients do not feel adequately supported and equipped with dealing with these rare diseases.</p><p><strong>Outcome: </strong>Virtual cross-border multidisciplinary team meetings (MDTs) were initiated in April 2022, bringing together participants from 11 European countries on a bi-yearly basis. Mean numbers of 3 patients are discussed during the MDTs followed by 3-4 quality assessment cases. A participant survey was conducted at the end of virtual meeting with an average satisfaction rate of 9.5. The pathologists felt supported and benefited from networking and clinical collaboration.</p><p><strong>Conclusions and outlook: </strong>This international MDT continues to provide support in managing the uncertainty with difficult and rare cases and enhances the pathologists training and experience. The frequency of meetings and the number of cases discussed per meeting will be increased in 2023 given the positive response. This will empower individuals and organisations to work together and improve diagnosis and the prognosis for these young patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":12952,"journal":{"name":"Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation","volume":" ","pages":"166-177"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0000,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11151979/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000536028","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2024/1/8 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD), comprising hydatidiform moles and gestational trophoblastic tumours, is extremely rare. Exact diagnosis is crucial to indicate the appropriate treatment and to prevent complications. The scarcity and variability in the number of cases available for reporting, lack of specialised training in GTD, and non-existence of refresher courses implies that the pathologist dealing with these rare and, at times, extremely challenging cases is not completely confident in their diagnosis.
Objectives: The objective of this study was to explore the benefits of implementation of an international multidisciplinary conference (virtual) to aid diagnosis of difficult cases and support clinical management of GTD.
Methods: A short survey was circulated to all 46 members of the EOTTD pathology and genetics working party and further spread to other colleagues who practice GTD. This showed that the pathologists and geneticists working with GTD patients do not feel adequately supported and equipped with dealing with these rare diseases.
Outcome: Virtual cross-border multidisciplinary team meetings (MDTs) were initiated in April 2022, bringing together participants from 11 European countries on a bi-yearly basis. Mean numbers of 3 patients are discussed during the MDTs followed by 3-4 quality assessment cases. A participant survey was conducted at the end of virtual meeting with an average satisfaction rate of 9.5. The pathologists felt supported and benefited from networking and clinical collaboration.
Conclusions and outlook: This international MDT continues to provide support in managing the uncertainty with difficult and rare cases and enhances the pathologists training and experience. The frequency of meetings and the number of cases discussed per meeting will be increased in 2023 given the positive response. This will empower individuals and organisations to work together and improve diagnosis and the prognosis for these young patients.
期刊介绍:
This journal covers the most active and promising areas of current research in gynecology and obstetrics. Invited, well-referenced reviews by noted experts keep readers in touch with the general framework and direction of international study. Original papers report selected experimental and clinical investigations in all fields related to gynecology, obstetrics and reproduction. Short communications are published to allow immediate discussion of new data. The international and interdisciplinary character of this periodical provides an avenue to less accessible sources and to worldwide research for investigators and practitioners.