What is the primary purpose of a multidisciplinary team for a patient diagnosed with a malignancy?

Primary Purpose of Multidisciplinary Teams in Malignancy

The primary purpose of a multidisciplinary team (MDT) for a patient diagnosed with malignancy is patient treatment optimization (Answer D), as MDTs are specifically designed to improve clinical decision-making, diagnostic accuracy, and treatment outcomes through coordinated care involving multiple specialists. 1

Core Function and Rationale

MDTs exist to optimize treatment decisions and improve patient outcomes through collaborative expertise. The fundamental purpose is bringing together healthcare professionals from different disciplines to determine the optimal treatment plan for each patient, which directly impacts survival and quality of life. 1, 2

Why MDTs Were Introduced

• Cancer management has become increasingly complex, requiring involvement of different healthcare professionals in clinical decision-making to provide optimal medical care 1
• MDTs improve communication, coordination, and decision-making in the cancer care process between healthcare professionals and patients 1
• The model emphasizes personalized treatment strategy according to the actual condition of each patient, maximizing patient benefits 3

Evidence of Treatment Optimization

Improved Clinical Outcomes

• In the UK, multidisciplinary management is associated with improved 5-year survival in colorectal cancer 1
• MDTs improve diagnostic accuracy: 26% of patients without MDT discussion of MRI had positive circumferential resection margins compared with only 1% of patients with MDT discussion 1
• MDTs rectify 20% of referral diagnoses, demonstrating their critical role in ensuring correct diagnosis before treatment 4
• Local recurrence rates were dramatically reduced (only 2.3% in T3a/bN0 disease and 0% in certain other stages) when multidisciplinary collaboration and standardized techniques were implemented 1

Treatment Decision Optimization

• The most important reasons for changing decisions within MDTs include comorbid disease, patient preferences, and availability of additional clinical information 1
• MDT decisions are implemented in 94.4% of cases, showing high adherence to optimized treatment plans 4
• MDTs increase resection rates, rates of receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and improve adherence to guidelines in lung cancer care 5

Essential MDT Composition for Optimal Care

MDTs must consist of at least:

• Radiation oncologist
• Medical oncologist
• Surgeon
• Pathologist
• Radiologist
• Clinical nurse specialist 1, 6

All new cancer patients should be discussed before neoadjuvant treatment or primary surgery as well as after surgery to decide on treatment strategies 1

Why Other Options Are Incorrect

Compassion (Option A) and judgment-free discussions (Option B) are supportive elements but not the primary purpose. While important for patient-centered care, they are means to achieve the ultimate goal of treatment optimization, not the goal itself. 1

End-of-life care (Option C) is only one component of cancer management. MDTs are involved throughout the entire disease trajectory—from diagnosis through treatment to follow-up—not just at end of life. 1

Critical Implementation Points

• Frequent meetings (weekly or biweekly) with 5-10 minutes per case maintain efficiency and physician engagement 1, 5
• Joint review of actual medical data is more effective than reading reports for making sound therapy decisions 1
• The presence of the treating physician is the most important factor to ensure correct diagnosis and adherence to treatment plans (20% more likely to receive correct diagnosis) 4
• Patient-centered clinical decision-making should incorporate patient preferences and physical condition to avoid deviations from MDT recommendations 4, 7