Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Jordan after cardiovascular diseases. Due to increase in life expectancy and prolonged exposure to risk factors, cancer mortality and morbidity are expected to increase as the young population ages. This increase will constitute a challenging burden on healthcare systems in Jordan and many other neighboring countries. Planning is key to managing the expected rise in the demand for cancer care, and this will require public health initiatives to guarantee access to quality cancer care. Over the past decade, cancer care in Jordan has witnessed remarkable improvement through access to advanced diagnostics and therapeutics. In this review, we address the history of cancer care in Jordan, including cancer statistics, infrastructure, workforce as well as cancer care outcomes. We also discuss many of the challenges that we face and offer suggestions for the improvement of cancer management in Jordan and the region.

Videoconferencing is a feasible and practical twinning tool in pediatric neuro-oncology with a potentially major impact on patient care.

Risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism and major hemorrhage in cancer-associated incidental pulmonary embolism among treated and untreated patients: a pooled analysis of 926 patients EssentialsWe performed a pooled analysis of 926 patients with cancer-associated incidental pulmonary embolism (IPE). Vitamin K antagonists (VKA) are associated with a higher risk of major hemorrhage. Recurrence risk is comparable after subsegmental and more proximally localized IPE. Our results support low molecular weight heparins over VKA and similar management of subsegmental IPE.Summary. Background: Incidental pulmonary embolism (IPE) is defined as pulmonary embolism (PE) diagnosed on computed tomography scanning not performed for suspected PE. IPE has been estimated to occur in 3.1% of all cancer patients and is a growing challenge for clinicians and patients. Nevertheless, knowledge about the treatment and prognosis of cancer-associated IPE is scarce. We aimed to provide the best available evidence on IPE management. Methods: Incidence rates of symptomatic recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE), major hemorrhage, and mortality during 6-month follow-up were pooled using individual patient data from studies identified by a systematic literature search. Subgroup analyses based on cancer stage, thrombus localization, and management were performed. Results: In 926 cancer patients with IPE from 11 cohorts, weighted pooled 6-month risks of recurrent VTE, major hemorrhage and mortality were 5.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.7-8.3%), 4.7% (95% CI 3.0-6.8%), and 37% (95% CI 28-47%). VTE recurrence risk was comparable under low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) and vitamin K

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in Jordan and the third leading cause of cancer death after lung and colorectal cancers. Although the incidence of breast cancer in Jordan is lower than that in industrialized nations, the number of new cases has been significantly increasing, and women present with breast cancer at a younger age and with more advanced disease than women in Western countries. Jordan is a medium-income country with limited resources and a young population structure. Therefore, breast cancer poses a particularly challenging burden on the country’s health care system. Despite ongoing endeavors to improve breast cancer care at both public and private levels, more work is needed to achieve downstaging of the disease and improve access, awareness, and participation in early detection. Multimodality treatment facilities and supportive care are available; however, the quality of care varies widely according to where the patient is treated, and most treatment facilities remain located centrally, thus, creating access difficulties. The King Hussein Cancer Center, the only comprehensive cancer center in Jordan, has changed the practice of oncology in the country via implementation of a multidisciplinary approach to treatment, monitoring of treatment outcomes, and investments in ongoing cancer research. However, there remains no national system for ensuring provision of high-quality cancer care nationwide. Here, we review the epidemiology of breast cancer and the current status of breast cancer care in Jordan, we compare our treatment outcomes with international ones, and we highlight challenges and improvement opportunities.

We aimed to characterize specific MRI findings seen in immune competent patients with intracranial primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) and to determine their value in the management of such patients. Pre-treatment MRI examinations of 21 immunocompetent patients with biopsy-proven PCNSL were retrospectively evaluated. T1 and T2 signal characteristics as well as contrast enhancement features are described in all patients. Diffusion, perfusion and proton-MR-spectroscopy features are described in a subset of these patients. In the proper clinical and radiologic setting, suggesting the diagnosis of PCNSL can help institute proper treatment in a timely fashion and avoid unnecessary attempts at surgical resection and the associated morbidity.