Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40445327›Full record

SynthesisPediatric surgery international2025

Multidisciplinary tumor boards in pediatric surgical oncology: a systematic review of approaches in low- and middle-income countries.

Cristian Puerta, Charbel Chidiac, Casandra E Besse, Arturo Klipstein, Lawrence Brown, Juan Carlos Fierro, Paul Phan, Patricia A Thistlethwaite, Daniel S Rhee, Jaime Shalkow-Klincovstein

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Pediatric surgery international, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Cristian PuertaDepartment of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, Berkeley, CA, USA.
Charbel ChidiacDepartment of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Casandra E BesseDepartment of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, Berkeley, CA, USA.
Arturo KlipsteinDepartment of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgical Oncology, The American British Cowdray Cancer Center, Anahuac University, Sur 136 #116, Col. Las Americas, 01120, Mexico City, Mexico.
Lawrence BrownDepartment of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Juan Carlos FierroDepartment of Oncology and the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Paul PhanDepartment of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Patricia A ThistlethwaiteDepartment of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, Berkeley, CA, USA.
Daniel S RheeDepartment of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Jaime Shalkow-KlincovsteinDepartment of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgical Oncology, The American British Cowdray Cancer Center, Anahuac University, Sur 136 #116, Col. Las Americas, 01120, Mexico City, Mexico. drshalkow@gmail.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Pediatric cancer outcomes have improved significantly in recent decades, importantly through multidisciplinary collaboration. Multidisciplinary Tumor Boards (MTBs) foster cross-specialty discussions, leading to refined treatment plans. However, their use in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remains underexplored. This systematic review aims to assess existing literature on pediatric MTBs in LMICs to elucidate their current status and identify strategies that enhance their adoption and impact patient outcomes. Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched PubMed, Google Scholar, and SciELO for quantitative and qualitative studies on pediatric MTBs in LMICs. Interventional and observational studies were included, while adult-only research, those set in high-income countries, or lacking results were excluded. Eight out of 2699 studies met inclusion criteria. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Collectively, 1063 pediatric patient cases were evaluated, with 90-min MTBs being most common. Attendees included pediatric oncologists, pediatric surgeons, radiologists, radiation oncologists, and pathologists. MTBs improved patient care and standardized treatment. However, LMICs faced challenges such as limited resources, lack of protected time, and unreliable internet access. Despite these barriers, MTBs remain vital for advancing pediatric cancer care in LMICs. Strengthening institutional support and policy frameworks is essential to sustaining and scaling MTBs, ultimately improving cancer care and outcomes for children in resource-constrained settings.

Indexed as

Developing CountriesNeoplasmsPatient Care TeamPediatricsSurgical OncologyChildHumansLow- and middle-income countriesMultidisciplinary tumor boardPediatric oncologyPediatric solid tumorsPediatric surgical oncology

Identifiers

PMID40445327

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.