Follow-Up Consultations for Cervical Cancer Patients in a Mexican Cancer Center. Comparison with NCCN Guidelines.

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the patterns of follow-up visits for cervix cancer in a national cancercenter in Mexico. Materials and <br/><b>Methods</b>: The National Cancer Institute of Mexico is cancer center with 119beds that mostly cares for an underserved and socially disadvantaged population. The medical records of casesof cervical cancer that had at least one year of clinical follow-up after being in complete response at the endof primary treatment were analyzed. We recorded the numbers of total and yearly follow-up visits and thesewere compared with the number of follow-up visits recommended by the National Comprehensive CancerNetwork 2013, version 2 for cervical cancer. <br/><b>Results</b>: Between March and June 2007, the medical records of 96consecutive patients were reviewed. Twenty (21%) of these met inclusion criteria and were selected. In the firstyear the median number of visits was 11 (4-20). In the ensuing years, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th, the number of analyzedpatients remaining in follow-up decreased to 17, 14, 13 and 9 respectively. There were 462 follow-up visits toprimary treating services (Gynecology Oncology, Radiation Oncology and Medical Oncology) as compared to220 suggested by the NCCN guidelines (X2 test p<0.0001). There were 150 additional visits to other services.<br/><b>Conclusions</b>: Our results suggest that in our institution there is an overuse of oncological services by cervicalcancer patients once treatment is completed.