What is a tumor board, and should my case be reviewed by one?
The short answer
A tumor board is a panel of specialists (oncologists, surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, and others) who review a case together. Having yours presented can surface options a single doctor might not, and it is most valuable for rare, advanced, or ambiguous cancers.
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Who this applies to
Anyone with a complex, rare, advanced, or hard-to-classify cancer, or anyone who wants more than one specialist to weigh in on the plan. You can ask whether your case has been or could be reviewed.
What a tumor board is
A tumor board (also called a multidisciplinary team meeting) is a regular meeting where specialists from different fields review individual cases together. Because a treatment plan often sits at the intersection of surgery, radiation, medical oncology, pathology, and imaging, having all of those perspectives in one room can produce a more complete plan than any single specialist working alone.
When it helps most
Tumor board review adds the most value when a case is not routine: a rare cancer or subtype, advanced or metastatic disease, an ambiguous diagnosis or staging, a case where specialists might reasonably disagree on approach, or a situation where a clinical trial or complex combined treatment is on the table. For a straightforward, early-stage cancer with a clear standard path, it may add less.
Questions to ask your oncologist
- Has my case been reviewed by a tumor board? If not, would that add value here?
- Can you present my case to the tumor board, and what would you want their input on?
- Which specialties would review my case, and what questions would you put to them?
Check this against your case
Upload your records and OpenCancer assembles a clear case summary (diagnosis, staging, biomarkers, and treatment history) that you can bring to your team when asking for a tumor board review.
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Written by OpenCancer’s science team and grounded in NCCN and NCI guidance. Independent medical review by our clinical team is in progress.
For informational purposes only. This page is grounded in published guidelines and is not medical advice. Always consult your oncologist or care team before making treatment decisions.