Change the Patient Outcome through the International MDT Consultations
“After nearly two hours of discussion with Prof. Leslie Lehmann and Prof. Pui Lee, we reached a consensus that the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus for this case is insufficient, that a regular check of antinuclear antibodies and complement is required, and that diagnosis of autoimmune disease and acute myeloid leukemia is clear. Based on the current diagnosis, it is recommended that the child should reduce the dosage of steroid gradually, and should consider the use of mycophenolate mofetil or azathioprine according to the follow-up condition. It is not recommended for the child to undergo bone marrow transplantation at this time.” Dr. Xu Weiqun, Vice Director of the Department of Hematology & Oncology, the Children’s Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine (ZUCH), summarized the results of the multidisciplinary team (MDT) consultation and formulated the next treatment plan for the patient.
On the morning of March 9th, an international MDT consultation was conducted successfully by specialists between ZUCH and Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH). Members of the Hematology & Oncology team led by Professor Tang Yongmin, and members of the rheumatology and immunology team led by Dr. Lu Meiping, Professor Leslie Lehmann, Medical Director for International Hematology & Oncology & BMT at BCH, and Professor Pui Lee, Attending Physician, Rheumatology Program at BCH, attended the online complicated case consultation.Founded in 1869, Boston Children's Hospital, a non-profit medical institution, is the largest hospital based on children’s medical science research institutions as well as the best pediatric hospital in the world.
Professor Fu Junfen, the Executive Vice President of the hospital, said that, “As one of the top children’s hospitals in China with two national centers, our hospital’s positioning is to conquer major and intractable diseases that other domestic hospitals cannot solve. The exchange with BCH, the best children’s hospital in the world, could enhance the overall strength of specialty and hospital and could help our specialists provide patients with the highest level of diagnosis and treatment.”
“It is wonderful that the MDT teams from ZUCH and BCH could meet through online video conference and discussed solutions to improve patient medical care and to change patient outcomes. These exchanges also provide valuable learning and knowledge sharing opportunities for our doctors, ” Professor Tang Yongmin said.
To provide better treatment options for the children and their families, ZUCH and BCH have developed the patient care case conference program using internet-based video conference system for ZUCH patients suffering from complicated, undiagnosed and rare diseases. In December 2020, Professor Fu Junfen and Cynthia Haines, Vice President of International Cooperation at Boston Children’s Hospital, signed a cooperation agreement between the two parties.
Until now, Departments of Hematology & Oncology, Rheumatology & Immunology, Nephrology have been actively involved in the case conferences and 14 remote international MDT consultations have been conducted with specialists from Boston Children’s Hospital to date. And the intractable diseases that have been discussed between the two hospitals include acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute monocytic leukemia, juvenile dermatomyositis, chronic epstein-barr virus infection and coronary artery dilation, RUNX1/RUNX1T1+ AML M2, rosai dorfman disease, acute myeloid leukemia (M7 type), acute myeloid leukemia (M5 type), etc..The patient outcomes have been changed effectively through the international MDT consultations.
