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Uncertainties in target volume delineation in radiotherapy – are they relevant and what can we do about them?

BACKGROUND: Modern radiotherapy techniques enable delivery of high doses to the target volume without escalating dose to organs at risk, offering the possibility of better local control while preserving good quality of life. Uncertainties in target volume delineation have been demonstrated for most...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Segedin, Barbara, Petric, Primoz
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: De Gruyter 2016
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5024655/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27679540
http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/raon-2016-0023
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author Segedin, Barbara
Petric, Primoz
author_facet Segedin, Barbara
Petric, Primoz
author_sort Segedin, Barbara
collection PubMed
description BACKGROUND: Modern radiotherapy techniques enable delivery of high doses to the target volume without escalating dose to organs at risk, offering the possibility of better local control while preserving good quality of life. Uncertainties in target volume delineation have been demonstrated for most tumour sites, and various studies indicate that inconsistencies in target volume delineation may be larger than errors in all other steps of the treatment planning and delivery process. The aim of this paper is to summarize the degree of delineation uncertainties for different tumour sites reported in the literature and review the effect of strategies to minimize them. CONCLUSIONS: Our review confirmed that interobserver variability in target volume contouring represents the largest uncertainty in the process for most tumour sites, potentially resulting in a systematic error in dose delivery, which could influence local control in individual patients. For most tumour sites the optimal combination of imaging modalities for target delineation still needs to be determined. Strict use of delineation guidelines and protocols is advisable both in every day clinical practice and in clinical studies to diminish interobserver variability. Continuing medical education of radiation oncologists cannot be overemphasized, intensive formal training on interpretation of sectional imaging should be included in the program for radiation oncology residents.
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spelling pubmed-50246552016-09-27 Uncertainties in target volume delineation in radiotherapy – are they relevant and what can we do about them? Segedin, Barbara Petric, Primoz Radiol Oncol Research Article BACKGROUND: Modern radiotherapy techniques enable delivery of high doses to the target volume without escalating dose to organs at risk, offering the possibility of better local control while preserving good quality of life. Uncertainties in target volume delineation have been demonstrated for most tumour sites, and various studies indicate that inconsistencies in target volume delineation may be larger than errors in all other steps of the treatment planning and delivery process. The aim of this paper is to summarize the degree of delineation uncertainties for different tumour sites reported in the literature and review the effect of strategies to minimize them. CONCLUSIONS: Our review confirmed that interobserver variability in target volume contouring represents the largest uncertainty in the process for most tumour sites, potentially resulting in a systematic error in dose delivery, which could influence local control in individual patients. For most tumour sites the optimal combination of imaging modalities for target delineation still needs to be determined. Strict use of delineation guidelines and protocols is advisable both in every day clinical practice and in clinical studies to diminish interobserver variability. Continuing medical education of radiation oncologists cannot be overemphasized, intensive formal training on interpretation of sectional imaging should be included in the program for radiation oncology residents. De Gruyter 2016-05-09 /pmc/articles/PMC5024655/ /pubmed/27679540 http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/raon-2016-0023 Text en © 2016 Radiol Oncol This content is free.
spellingShingle Research Article
Segedin, Barbara
Petric, Primoz
Uncertainties in target volume delineation in radiotherapy – are they relevant and what can we do about them?
title Uncertainties in target volume delineation in radiotherapy – are they relevant and what can we do about them?
title_full Uncertainties in target volume delineation in radiotherapy – are they relevant and what can we do about them?
title_fullStr Uncertainties in target volume delineation in radiotherapy – are they relevant and what can we do about them?
title_full_unstemmed Uncertainties in target volume delineation in radiotherapy – are they relevant and what can we do about them?
title_short Uncertainties in target volume delineation in radiotherapy – are they relevant and what can we do about them?
title_sort uncertainties in target volume delineation in radiotherapy – are they relevant and what can we do about them?
topic Research Article
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5024655/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27679540
http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/raon-2016-0023
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AT petricprimoz uncertaintiesintargetvolumedelineationinradiotherapyaretheyrelevantandwhatcanwedoaboutthem