Multidisciplinary team in cancer management

The multidisciplinary team (MDT) is defined as a group of people of different healthcare disciplines, which meets together at a given time to discuss a given patient; each of them is able to contribute independently to the diagnostic and treatment decision about the patient. In general, surgeon, radiologist and medical oncology dignify the core member of the team. The concept of MDT was formally introduced into UK practice during the 1990s. A major impetus was given by the publication of the Calman-Hine report in 1995 and the consequent drive to ensure that all patients with cancer, no matter where they might live, and to whom they might have been referred, would have equal access to a high and uniform standard of care. Theoretically, MDT working should ensure an effective coordination, the best quality as well as a good continuity of patient care by bringing together key professionals with all necessary knowledge, skills and experience. The recent institution of Virtual Multidisciplinary Teem (vMDT) has been introduced to resolve the economical and organisational problems of MDT. MDT work is widely accepted in many other countries, e.g. USA, Australia and some countries in Europe, all of which have comparable initiatives to those listed above. © 2014 Springer International Publishing Switzerland. All rights reserved