Processes of care in curative therapy for gastric cancer: A RAND/UCLA appropriateness study

104 Background: Processes of care in curative therapy for gastric cancer are ill-defined, have significant variations and may impact patient outcomes. Methods: A multi-disciplinary expert panel (16 physicians, 6 countries) scored 595 scenarios using the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Methodology. Appropriateness was scored from 1 (highly inappropriate) to 9 (highly appropriate). Median appropriateness scores from 1-3 were considered inappropriate, 4-6 uncertain, and 7-9 appropriate. Agreement was reached when 11 of 16 panelists scored the statement similarly. If a statement was agreed to be appropriate, it was given a necessity score in the same manner. Results: Open gastrectomy was considered appropriate for all patients and necessary for patients with N2-3 disease, while laparoscopic gastrectomy was appropriate for patients with T1-2 N0 disease. D1 lymph node dissection (LND) was considered appropriate for T1 N0 disease. For all others, D2 LND was considered appropriate and necessary. It was appropriate to assess at least 15 LN. Intraoperative pathologic assessment of the proximal margin was considered appropriate for gross margins Conclusions: The above criteria have been found to be appropriate and necessary for the curative treatment of patients with gastric cancer and may be used to improve processes and quality of care.