A Free and Customized Online Tool to Facilitate Quick and Accurate Staging of Common Gastrointestinal Malignancies
 
Authors:
Roland Talanow, MD, PhD, Cleveland Clinic
 
Background:
Complex cancer staging systems describe the anatomic spread of a particular malignancy. Staging provides prognostic information and is vital in guiding appropriate therapy. Tumor classification and staging is complex and especially difficult to overlook for the inexperienced physician.
 
Evaluation:
We provide a free, comprehensive, web-based, on-the-fly solution which is easy to use and aids in accurate staging of common gastrointestinal malignancies. The tumor classification information is based on the Collaborative Staging Network. On-the-fly staging is done by calculating and comparing the information provided by the user with the tumor classification database saved on the server. The staging tool can be used in several modes for the user’s convenience. Output of information is also offered in several modes to increase flexibility and to better integrate into the reader’s workflow. This program can be integrated into third party programs, such as the international Radiology community Radiolopolis, thus allowing a large professional community to use this staging tool directly from their own website.
 
Discussion:
This free, web-based, and customized program easily integrates into the radiologist’s daily work from any monitor or PACS station. The interface is flexible and easily adapts to the individual physician’s preferences by seamlessly incorporating into the workflow. It is an intuitive, user-friendly educational program which makes staging of common lung malignancies easy and accurate.
 
Conclusion:
The author presents a free and customized online tool to facilitate quick and accurate staging of common gastrointestinal malignancies.
 
References:
National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov
American Joint Committee on Cancer. http://www.cancerstaging.org
National Cancer Registrars Association. http://www.ncra-usa.org
North American Association of Central Cancer Registries. http://www.naaccr.org
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov
Radiolopolis http://www.radiolopolis.com