Frequency of Office Visits
- One week after hospital discharge: Wound healing is checked. Case should be discussed in tumor board meeting. Consider consultation with radiation oncologist.
- Thereafter, per center’s routine: Typically the patient is seen 1 month and then 3–4 months after surgery, with a repeat image obtained approximately 3–4 months after surgery. Going forward, this scan is used as the “baseline” scan. Scheduled follow-ups continue after that.
Frequency of Imaging
- Within 48 hours of surgery
- Approximately 3–4 weeks after surgery for radiation planning.
- Postoperative baseline: 8 weeks after radiation is completed or 3–4 months after surgery, a scan is performed to document the appearance of the operative bed after its recovery from surgery.
- Sequential follow-up scans: Scans are scheduled according to the center’s routine after the baseline scan to monitor for tumor recurrence/progression. Most would do a scan at 6 months after surgery and then at 1 year. After 1 year, there will be variation in the frequency, but most would obtain repeat scans at least yearly, if not more often.
Other Investigations Required
- Screen endocrine and cognitive function after radiotherapy: Endocrine and neuropsychological testing should be performed after radiation therapy.
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