Use of Virtual Oncology in Hepatopancreatobiliary Cancers: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Background: Telehealth has emerged as a promising solution to address access gaps in cancer care, particularly for complex conditions such as hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) cancers. Despite the broader adoption of telemedicine in oncology, HPB cancers remain underrepresented in digital health innovation. This scoping review aimed to characterize the extent, nature, and outcomes of telehealth interventions for HPB cancers.

Methods: From the inception of telehealth to 16 January 2025, a medical librarian searched the MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science databases for studies on telehealth use in the HPB oncology patient population. Two reviewers screened studies in a dual-review process. The included studies examined telehealth for screening, treatment or surveillance, and reported feasibility, health outcomes, cost-effectiveness, and satisfaction in academic, community, or government health care settings.

Results: Of 5049 articles identified, 42 met the inclusion criteria. Most study designs were observational (cohort) or pilot feasibility trials focusing on patient-facing interventions such as mobile apps, symptom monitoring, and virtual consultations. Fewer studies evaluated provider-facing models such as virtual tumor boards or inter-institutional consultations. The most frequently assessed outcomes were feasibility (n = 28), health outcomes (n = 24), and satisfaction (n = 22), with minimal evaluation of cost-effectiveness (n = 3). Most of the studies were conducted in academic or urban settings, with only one study focusing on a rural population.

Conclusion: Telehealth for HPB cancers remains nascent, with interventions largely concentrated in high-resource, urban environments. Given the complexity of HPB care and the significant disparities in access, future efforts should prioritize the development of multidisciplinary, equity-oriented virtual platforms tailored to HPB populations.

Keywords: Digital health; Health equity; Hepatopancreatobiliary cancer; Telemedicine; Virtual tumor boards.