Multi-Institutional Modified Delphi For Genomics in Expert Consensus Survey of Genomic Testing for Anterior Skull...

The use of genomic testing for patients with anterior skull base malignancies has grown dramatically. There are no clear guidelines on indications for testing. As the literature on the subject is still in early stages, there is a need for expert consensus. We conducted a modified Delphi expert consensus process with high-volume North American cranial base surgical programs.

A modified Delphi consensus approach was used, following the method laid out by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and included 13 high-volume care centers. An otolaryngologist was appointed at each location to serve as the institutional representative.

Participant responses to Delphi surveys were tabulated to determine consensus.

Thirteen teams responded comprising 23 otolaryngologists and 10 neurosurgeons. Overall, 11 of 12 institutions reported genomic testing to be fairly or easily available at their location, and 22 of 38 initial statements achieved consensus. Statements achieving consensus focused on primary and recurrent rare tumors without possibility of margin-negative resection, those with family history of anterior skull base malignancies, or rare tumors with distant metastasis. Statements regarding routine genomic sequencing or for primary tumors and cost of care did not achieve consensus.

Expert multidisciplinary teams agreed on several appropriate settings for genomic sequencing in patients with anterior skull base malignancies, including recurrence, distant metastasis, and the inability to achieve a margin-negative resection. Further research is needed to explicitly clarify the role of genomic sequencing in this rare disease group.