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Closing the survival gap: Implementation of medulloblastoma protocols in a low‐income country through a twinning program
Author(s) -
Qaddoumi Ibrahim,
Musharbash Awni,
Elayyan Maher,
Mansour Asem,
AlHussaini Maysa,
Drake James,
Swaidan Maisa,
Bartels Ute,
Bouffet Eric
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.23160
Subject(s) - medulloblastoma , medicine , crystal twinning , multidisciplinary approach , closing (real estate) , pediatrics , family medicine , demography , political science , sociology , pathology , microstructure , materials science , law , metallurgy
Abstract Successful twinning initiatives have been reported in childhood leukemia. Pediatric neuro‐oncology requires a complex multidisciplinary approach and the feasibility of similar twinning programs is unknown. Twinning between King Hussein Cancer Center in Amman and the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto started with e‐mail communications, and subsequently included monthly videoconferences and exchanges between institutions. The outcome of 35 newly diagnosed medulloblastoma patients (22 high‐risk and 13 average‐risk) treated during this period is reported. The 3‐year overall survival for average risk and high‐risk patients was 100 and 81%, respectively. This experience suggests that twinning may facilitate the implementation of multidisciplinary neuro‐oncology programs in low‐income countries. Videoconferencing allows interactive exchanges with a significant learning impact. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.