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Does Practice Make Perfect?

Institute of Clinical Outcomes in Research and Education (ICORE), St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Ireland

Correspondence: Address correspondence and reprint requests to: D. C. Winter; E-mail: WinterD{at}indigo.ie

Extensive literature supports the correlation between surgical volume and improved clinical outcome in the management of various cancers. It is this evidence that has catalysed the creation of centres of excellence. However, on closer inspection, many of these studies are poor quality, low weight and use vastly heterogenous end points in assessment of both volume and outcome. We critically appraise the English language literature published over the last ten years pertaining to the volume outcome relationship in the context of cancer care. Future balanced unbiased studies may enable equipoise in planning international cancer management strategies.

Key Words: Cancer • Volume • Outcome