Improving head and neck sarcoma care: The impact of a specialized multidisciplinary team approach on diagnosis and patient outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: Globally, head & neck sarcoma care pathways remain unclear. In 2018, the London Sarcoma Service (LSS) set up a dedicated head and neck sarcoma (HNS) multidisciplinary team (MDT) with a clear objective to provide formal access to super-specialist expertise in diagnosis, treatment planning and management of HNS. The aim of the study is to provide first results of a dedicated HNS MDT. METHODS: All patients discussed between 2018 and 2022, in HNS MDT, with a new histologically confirmed HNS diagnosis were included in the study. Demographics, anatomic site, morphology, MDT recommendation, treatment details and outcomes were obtained from electronic patient records. RESULTS: A total of 337 patients were discussed in the HNS MDT of which 178 patients were included in the study, with a median age of 53 years(range 2-94); 67 % were soft tissue sarcomas(STS) and 33 % were bone sarcomas(BS), of which 43 % and 71 % were high grade, respectively. 55 % BS and 39 % STS underwent surgery. 9 % of BS and 7 % of STS received adjuvant Proton Beam therapy. With a median follow-up of 2.16 years, recurrence was observed in 12 %, distant metastasis in 6 % of patients and overall survival was 72 %. CONCLUSION: The HNS MDT provides expertise on diagnosis and multi-modality management of HNS. STS are more likely to be misdiagnosed. Atypical imaging characteristics should trigger a specialist referral. Adequate surgery at first presentation remains the mainstay of treatment and the strongest prognosticator of overall survival. Formation of an expert working group specific to HNS must work towards streamlining sarcoma care.

Pleomorphic dermal sarcoma: Clinicopathological features and outcomes from a 5-year tertiary referral centre experience.

BACKGROUND: Pleomorphic dermal sarcoma (PDS) describes rare dermal-based malignant tumours that are morphologically similar to atypical fibroxanthoma (AFX). PDS may be differentiated from AFX by the presence of one or more of the following histologic features: subcutaneous invasion, tumour necrosis, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), and/or perineural infiltration (PNI). AIMS: To further define the clinicopathological features, surgical management, and outcomes of PDS primary tumours. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study was a retrospective observational case series using a database search from 2012 to 2017. Inclusion criteria required all cases to meet the histopathologic criteria for PDS as confirmed by a specialist soft-tissue histopathologist. A total of n = 17 cases were included with a median age of 78 years (range 66-85). All tumours were located on the head and neck, with 13/17 located on the scalp. Primary treatment was with wide local excision (WLE) in all cases. Median follow-up was 48 months. Local recurrence occurred in 4/17 cases (24%) and distant metastasis in 2/17 cases (12%). CONCLUSION: PDS behaves more aggressively than atypical fibroxanthoma with which it shares a biologic continuum. The optimal surgical management approach is yet to be determined.

Hotel-based ambulatory care for complex cancer patients: a review of the University College London Hospital experience.

Since 2005, University College London Hospital (UCLH) has operated a hotel-based Ambulatory Care Unit (ACU) for hematology and oncology patients requiring intensive chemotherapy regimens and hematopoietic stem cell transplants. Between January 2005 and 2011 there were 1443 patient episodes, totaling 9126 patient days, with increasing use over the 6-year period. These were predominantly for hematological malignancy (82%) and sarcoma (17%). Median length of stay was 5 days (range 1-42), varying according to treatment. Clinical review and treatment was provided in the ACU, with patients staying in a local hotel at the hospital's expense. Admission to the inpatient ward was arranged as required, and there was close liaison with the inpatient team to preempt emergency admissions. Of the 523 unscheduled admissions, 87% occurred during working hours. An ACU/hotel-based treatment model can be safely used for a wide variety of cancers and treatments, expanding hospital treatment capacity, and freeing up inpatient beds for those patients requiring them.