Abstract 91P
Background
Patients treated for rare cancers, such as sarcomas, are exposed to reduced survival rates. The diagnostic and therapeutic management of soft tissue and bone sarcomas is challenging, particularly in settings with limited resources. This cross-sectional survey aims to investigate key difficulties in managing these malignancies with a focus on extremity sarcomas by Moroccan practitioners.
Methods
Our report is a national cross-sectional study based on an anonymous self-administered questionnaire, designed on the freely available Google Forms® platform. The target population included Moroccan medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and orthopedic traumatologists practicing in both the public and private sectors.
Results
A total of 153 Moroccan practitioners were surveyed including medical oncologists (47.1%), radiation oncologists (34%), and orthopedic traumatologists (19%). Mostly all of them (92.8%) received 1 to 5 cases of sarcomas per month, including 25.5% who often received extremity sarcomas surgically treated without prior biopsy,and 32% without a prior imaging assessment. Remarkably, 50.3% of surgeons were non-specialist surgeons. The time to have an appointment for imaging was beyond one month in 46.4% for MRI, 26.8% for CT, and 65.4% for isotopic assessments. 60.8% of surveyed participants did not have a pathologist specialized in the diagnosis of sarcomas in their settings of practice, and, more than half of surveyed practitioners did not take part in sarcoma multidisciplinary meetings. 92.2% of practitioners stated to have difficulties to indicate the best therapeutic options for their patients. In Moroccan cancer centers treating adult patients, high-dose methotrexate-based protocols were not used. The inaccessibility of rehabilitation and physiotherapy services was noticed (46.4%) in addition to the absence of psychotherapeutic management (72.5%).
Conclusions
In Morocco, the practice of extremity sarcoma oncology faces several diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Therefore, reconsidering the current practice of sarcomas management is urgently needed. Notably, the creation of a national reference sarcoma center with expert multidisciplinary teams is particularly awaited.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.