Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Introduction/background: The ENETS network of accredited NET Centres of Excellence (CoE) across Europe was established to standardise and improve NET management. Aims: To compare diagnostic and patient management pathways for lung NET in ENETS CoE with non-accredited UK centres (non-CoE). Materials and methods: Between Oct 2016–May 2017 clinicians at 27 UK centres were interviewed about current patient management. Respondents were from all 10 CoE (4 oncologists, 6 other specialists) and 17 non-CoE (15 oncologists, 2 other specialists). Results are presented as CoE vs non-CoE respondents. Results: Tests and investigations used routinely at diagnosis, include: Pathology, WHO classification (9/10 [90%] vs 12/17 [71%]), Ki-67 index (8/10 [80%] vs 13/17 [76%]); Radiology/Somatostatin Receptor Scintigraphy (SRS), gallium 68 SRS positron emission tomography (PET) (7/10 [70%] vs 3/17 [18%]), FDG PET (9/10 [90%] vs 13/17 [76%]), octreotide SRS (6/10 [60%] vs 12/17 [71%]), bone scan (4/10 [40%] vs 4/17 [24%]); Biochemistry, serum or urine 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (8/10 [80%] vs 12/17 [71%]), chromogranin A (10/10 [100%] vs 12/17 [71%]). All 10 CoE and 15/17 (88%) non-CoE respondents had a NET specialist multidisciplinary team meeting (MDTM); 9/10 (90%) vs 7/17 (41%) had a NET clinical nurse specialist; 8/10 (80%) vs 5/17 (29%) had a lung NET patient database. Conclusions: Although based on small numbers, these results suggest that there is wider use of ENETS recommended tests/assessments and greater access to NET nurse specialists and MDTM in CoE compared with non-CoE. This may reflect the rigorous auditing required for ENETS accreditation. Further work is needed to determine whether these apparent differences translate into improved patient outcomes.

Type

Conference paper

Publication Date

09/03/2018

Keywords

Lung NET, Centre of Excellence, ENETS, treatment pathways, diagnostics