Article Text
Abstract
Objectives The aim of this study is to assess the management of patients affected by ovarian cancer at first diagnosis in the Oncological Network of Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta.
Specific objectives of this audit are description of first line treatment, evaluation of adherence to international guidelines, description of overall survival and assessment of clinical and organizational factors that could influence the outcome.
Methods We carried out an audit of newly diagnosed cases of ovarian cancer treated within the oncological network of Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta between May 2017 and December 2018. Using an algorithm we have identified 531 patients, whose data has been stratified by the surgical activity of the different centres of the network: group A with ≥ 30, group B 18–29, group C ≤ 17.
Results A preliminary analysis shows a statistically significant difference in quality of diagnostic and treatment pathways between centres with high volume activity and those with a low volume as shown in figure 1.
Conclusions These preliminary data suggest how diagnostic pathway, treatment efficacy and consequently survival could depend on amount of the surgical procedures of the hospital. If results will be confirmed at the end of the Audit (December 2020), it could be possible exporting this system also outside the Oncological Network in order to set improvement strategies.