Effect of Multidisciplinary Board on The Diagnosis and Treatment of Endocrine Diseases

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the outcomes of our multidisciplinary endocrine board (MEB) which is established for more specific treatment management of the patients with endocrine gland diseases. Material and Methods: The MEB is established at 2012 in our institution. Prior to this date, the setup of board was a general tumor board (GTB) in which mostly malignant cases were discussed. The records of GTB rounds from January 2009 to September 2012, the records of MEB rounds from September 2012 to December 2014 and the endocrine surgery cases performed at our department since 2009 were retrospectively analyzed and compared. Results: A total of 1012 patients were included the study. In GTB period, 336 patients, in MEB period, 599 patients underwent surgery for endocrine diseases. Only 94 of these patients who underwent surgery were discussed at GTB, dispite that, 582 cases were discussed at MEB (p<0.001). Benign, suspicious or malignant thyroid gland diseases (n=396) were most commonly discussed (68%) at MEB. The total number of surgery for endocrine cases, thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal gland diseases were increased after the establishment of the MEB (p=0.06, p=0.13, p=0.04 and p=0.09, respectively) when compared with GTB. Also the number of surgery for thyroid cancer and the requirement of prophylactic and therapeutic neck dissection were increased (p=0.10 and p=0.03, respectively). Conclusion: In a field as complex as endocrine diseases, a special board should increase the quantity of more sophisticated cases, as well as the quality and effectiveness of disease management rather than a GTB