Amit Mehta, MD

In the practice of oncology, confirmation of the diagnosis is virtually always critical before initiating treatment. This can have considerable implications for the selection of therapy, particularly if a different histology (eg, adenocarcinoma vs. squamous cell carcinoma) or even a second primary cancer is discovered. The importance of this theme is illustrated nicely by a recent patient we evaluated in consultation.

With the continual growth of the number of cytotoxic and targeted chemotherapeutics, as well as novel combinations of different agents, it is more crucial than ever that treating oncologists are aware of relatively rare, but serious adverse effects. This need is exemplified by a case that we encountered at our institution earlier this year.

We are privileged to be part of an eminently exciting time in oncology. There has been a veritable explosion of knowledge and research over the past several years, and this has been gradually translated into effective therapies for patients.