Current medical practice is considered sub-optimal if the guiding principles for practice are not based on peer-reviewed scientific evidence. In the face of the currently available vast medical literature published in more than 30,000 biomedical journals annually, it is essential for clinicians to keep abreast with the current standards of care.
The mandate of the Tata Memorial Hospital has been “Service, Research, and Education”. In keeping with this mandate and with the view of sharing information on current practice of oncology and to inculcate the practice of evidence based oncology in the country, the first volume of the manual on “Evidence Based Management of Cancers in India” was published last year on common cancers like Head & Neck, Breast, Gynaecological and Gastrointestinal tumours.
The current volume addresses other sites i.e. Bone and Soft Tissue Tumours, Paediatric Brain and Solid Tumours, and Lung & Oesophageal Cancers. Although it is desirable to offer treatment based on “Level I Evidence” or “Grade A” recommendation, it may not be possible to have such evidence/ recommendations for rare tumours. Nonetheless it is important to collate the best available evidence and correctly interpret the data using scientific methodology for formulating and implementing evidence based guidelines applicable to the Indian scenario. It is essential to take into account the local milieu such as patient numbers, their soci-economic status, resource availability, local expertise and the means to deliver appropriate management.
Site-specific multidisciplinary groups comprising Surgical, Radiation and Medical Oncologists, Radiologists, Pathologists, & other supporting specialties have formulated each of the guidelines in this Manual. A section containing abstracts of important related publications for the reader’s reference follows each topic. The applicability of the guidelines in the Indian scenario has been kept in mind during their formulation.
We look forward to your inputs that would be invaluable in improving the quality and applicability of these evidence based guidelines in our country.

Dr. (Ms.) K.A. Dinshaw, DMRT, FRCR.	28th February 2004
Director,	Mumbai
Tata Memorial Centre	India