VOLUME 20 - NUMBER 1 / Enero-Marzo (Original article / Artículo original)
María T. Bourlon, Department of Hematology and Oncology, Urologic Oncology Clinic, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición "Salvador Zubirán"; Genitourinary Tumors Section, Mexican Cooperative Research Group in Oncology, Sociedad Mexicana de Oncología Clínica; Mexico City, Mexico
Yuly A. Remolina-Bonilla, Department of Hematology and Oncology, Urologic Oncology Clinic, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición "Salvador Zubirán"; Genitourinary Tumors Section, Mexican Cooperative Research Group in Oncology, Sociedad Mexicana de Oncología Clínica, Mexico City, Mexico
Hugo E. Velázquez, Department of Hematology and Oncology, Urologic Oncology Clinic, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición "Salvador Zubirán", Mexico City, Mexico
Jose M. Ruíz-Morales, Genitourinary Tumors Section, Mexican Cooperative Research Group in Oncology, Sociedad Mexicana de Oncología Clínica; Department of Hematology and Oncology, Hospital Médica Sur; Mexico City, Mexico
Nora Sobrevilla-Moreno, Genitourinary Tumors Section, Mexican Cooperative Research Group in Oncology, Sociedad Mexicana de Oncología Clínica; Department of Medical Oncology, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología; Mexico, City, Mexico
Ana E. Martin-Aguilar, Genitourinary Tumors Section, Mexican Cooperative Research Group in Oncology, Sociedad Mexicana de Oncología Clínica; Department of Medical Oncology, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Mexico City, Mexico
María G. Díaz-Alvarado, Genitourinary Tumors Section, Mexican Cooperative Research Group in Oncology, Sociedad Mexicana de Oncología Clínica; Department of Medical Oncology, Centro Médico Nacional 20 de Noviembre, Mexico City, Mexico
Perla Pérez-Pérez, Servicio de Oncología Médica, Centro Médico Nacional 20 de Noviembre, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado, Ciudad de México, México
Samuel Rivera-Rivera, Chairman, Sociedad Mexicana de Oncología (SMeO)
Background: Most genitourinary (GU) neoplasms have several treatment options should be discussed by a multidisciplinary team. In Mexico, the status of urologic oncology clinics (UOCs) is unknown. Objective: Our aim was to evaluate the current status of UOC, determine the existence of GU-MTB, and define the resource disparities among centers in Mexico. Methods: A cross-sectional study based on an online survey developed by the Genitourinary Mexican Cooperative Research Group in Oncology. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis. Results: Twenty UOCs were identified and were located in 8 of 32 states. Only 50% reported having a multidisciplinary tumor board (MTB). Medical oncology, urology, and radiation oncology participated in 90% of UOCs; nursing, social work, and research staff participation were absent. Ninety percent of MTBs reported discussing all GU neoplasms, one center exclusively discussed kidney cancer cases. Conclusions: There are 20 institutions with these clinics in the country, they are located in only 3 of 32 states. The uneven geographical distribution and the unequal availability of resources reflect the disparity in access to health care services.
Keywords: Mexico. Urogenital neoplasms. Health-care disparities. Interdisciplinary communication.
