Virtual versus in-person multidisciplinary musculoskeletal tumor conferences in times of COVID-19

INTRODUCTION: Multidisciplinary tumor conferences are a fundamental component in the treatment of oncological patients. The COVID-19 pandemic and its resulting social distancing restrictions offered the opportunity to compare in-person to virtual multidisciplinary tumor conferences. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of first-time presentations in tumor conferences at a university musculoskeletal tumor center in the time periods from September 2019 to February 2020 (in-person) and May 2020 to October 2020 (virtual). RESULTS: A total of 209 patients were first-time discussed in one of 52 analyzed musculoskeletal multidisciplinary tumor conferences (105 patients in 25 in-person, and 104 patients 27 virtual meetings). The total number of participants was slightly lower with virtual meetings (p < .001) and more disciplines were represented in virtual tumor conferences (p < .001). With median six consultants present in either, the level of available expertise did not differ between the conference formats (p = .606). Compared to in-person tumor meetings, the patients were discussed earlier in the virtual conferences (p = .028). The interval between first presentation to biopsy was significantly shorter after virtual tumor conferences (median 4 vs. 7 days, p < .001). There was no significant difference in the interval between initial presentation and resection (p = .544) among the two conference formats. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of virtual tumor conferences appears to have had a positive effect on timely diagnosis and multidisciplinarity during tumor conferences. This may result in better decision-making and treatment of patients with musculoskeletal tumors and could be routinely implemented into cancer care.