Malignant bowel obstruction (MBO) is a severe complication in advanced cancer. MBO was defined in the International Conference on MBO and Clinical Protocol Committee as (i) clinical evidence of bowel obstruction (via history, physical, and/or radiological examination), (ii) bowel obstruction beyond the ligament of Treitz, and (iii) diagnosis of intra-abdominal cancer with an incurable disease, or a non-intra-abdominal primary cancer with the clear intraperitoneal disease. The algorithm of care for patients with MBO is not uniform and often differs according to clinical factors (e.g., prognosis) and between institutions and countries.
In this article, the MASCC MBO multidisciplinary study group presents comprehensive, evidence-based recommendations about MBO management for patients with advanced cancer and the methodology used to develop these recommendations.
