The book offers a comprehensive review of the relations between volumes and outcomes in oncological surgery especially in Italian hospitals, based on national and regional data. After illustrating the quality-control methodology and the determinants of surgical outcomes, it discusses the volume-outcome relationship in different fields of surgical oncology (cancers of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract, hepatopancreatobiliary system, breast, sarcomas etc.) and suggests possible solutions. The latest findings from Europe and the USA are also presented.

1 Introduction

2 A Brief Hystory of This Topic
3 Determinants of Outcome in Health Care
4 State of The Art in Italy : The Role of Agenas
5 Outcome and Quality Control in Surgery
6 Outcome in  Esophagogastric  Surgery
7  Outcome in Hepatobiliary  Surgery
8 Outcome in Pancreatic Surgery
9 Outcome in Colorectal Surgery
10 Outcome in Surgery of Sarcomas
11 Outcome in Breast Surgery
12 Outcome in Endocrine Surgery
13 Outcome in Thoracic Surgery
14 The Specific Role of Minimally Invasive Surgery  ( Lap And Robotics )
15 How to Tackle with this Problem in Different European Nations
16 Outcome in Usa
17 Outcome in Non Oncologic Surgery : is it Worth a Discussion?
18 Proposal and Solutions in Italy with Experiences from Different Regions
19 Conclusions and Call for Actions.