Scientific publications
The ESSO core curriculum committee update on surgical oncology
Jos van der Hage 1 , Sergio Sandrucci 2 , Riccardo Audisio 3 , Lynda Wyld 4 , Kjetil Søreide 5 , ESSO core curriculum contributors; Teresa Amaral 6 , Riccardo Audisio 7 , Viren Bahadoer 8 , Geerard Beets 9 , Kim Benstead 10 , Elisabeth Berge Nilsen 11 , Kalijn Bol 12 , Andreas Brandl 13 , Jerry Braun 14 , Tanja Cufer 15 , Cristina Dopazo 16 , Ibrahim Edhemovic 17 , Jesper Grau Eriksen 18 , Marco Fiore 19 , Tessa van Ginhoven 20 , Santiago Gonzalez-Moreno 21 , Jos van der Hage 8 , Merlijn Hutteman 14 , Yazan Masannat 22 , Elisa Concetta Onesti 23 , Beate Rau 24 , Theo De Reijke 25 , Isabel Rubio 26 , Jelle Ruurda 27 , Sergio Sandrucci 28 , Kjetil Soreide 29 , Stefan Stattner 30 , Dario Trapani 31 , Domenico D'Ugo 32 , Menno Vriens 32 , Lynda Wyld 33 , Ane Gerda Zahl Eriksson 34
Introduction: Surgical oncology is a defined specialty within the European Board of Surgery within the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). Variation in training and specialization still occurs across Europe. There is a need to align the core knowledge needed to fulfil the criteria across subspecialities in surgical oncology.
Material and methods: The core curriculum, established in 2013, was developed with contributions from expert advisors from within the European Society of Surgical Oncology (ESSO), European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) and European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) and related subspeciality experts.
Results: The current version reiterates and updates the core curriculum structure needed for current and future candidates who plans to train for and eventually sit the European fellowship exam for the European Board of Surgery in Surgical Oncology.
The content included is not intended to be exhaustive but, rather to give the candidate an idea of expectations and areas for in depth study, in addition to the practical requirements. The five elements included are: Basic principles of oncology; Disease site specific oncology; Generic clinical skills; Training recommendations, and, lastly; Eligibility for the EBSQ exam in Surgical Oncology.
Conclusions: As evidence-based care for cancer patients evolves through research into basic science, translational research and clinical trials, the core curriculum will evolve, mature and adapt to deliver continual improvements in cancer outcomes for patients.
CITATION Eur J Surg Oncol. 2021 Nov;47(11):e1-e30. doi: 10.1016/j.ejso.2021.10.003. Epub 2021 Oct 13.