How Multidisciplinary are Case Discussions in Tumor Conferences of Breast and Gynecological Cancer Patients in German Cancer Centers?

Authors

Jannika Rother, Barbara Schellenberger, Nicole Ernstmann, Lena Ansmann, Till Jes Hansen, Fabian Hebben, Benjamin Wilfrid Lamb, Tayana Soukup, Christian Heuser

Published in

Journal of multidisciplinary healthcare. Volume 19. Pages 600285. Epub Oct 21, 2026.

Abstract

Multidisciplinary tumor conferences (MTC) are mandatory for certified cancer centers in Germany and usually take place on a weekly basis. During MTC case discussions, diagnoses and guideline-based recommendations are discussed and agreed. However, initial studies indicate that case discussions are not always multidisciplinary. In particular, psycho-oncologists and nurses are rarely present or rarely participate in case discussions. The aim of this study is to analyze for the first time in Germany how multidisciplinary the discussions of breast and gynecological cancer patients at MTC really are.
Data for the study INCASE ("How multidisciplinary are case discussions of breast and gynecological cancer patients", 2024-2025) was taken from structured observations, audio recordings, transcripts, patient surveys (N=345), case discussions (N=235) collected within the PINTU study between 2018 and 2020 in 6 cancer centers in North-Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. All case discussions were analyzed descriptively in terms of multidisciplinary attendance, verbal contribution, and involvement in discussing the treatment recommendation. Group differences were examined across pre- and postoperative cases, UICC stage, and patient participation.
The core team (senology (breast surgery), radiology, pathology, internal or gynecological oncology) was incomplete in about 54% of the cases. Psycho-oncology and nursing were less frequently present and made the lowest contribution to discussions. 28% of case discussions involved verbal contributions from a single participant. There were descriptive differences between cancer centers with regard to presence and active participation of individual professional groups.
MTCs are an essential element of oncological care. The findings suggest that formal multidisciplinary requirements are not consistently reflected in routine tumor conference practice.

PMID:
42928752
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 26 Oct 2026.

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