TY - JOUR
T1 - Contouring of the Pharyngeal Superior Constrictor Muscle (PSCM). A cooperative study of the Italian Association of Radiation Oncology (AIRO) Head and Neck Group
AU - Alterio, Daniela
AU - Ciardo, Delia
AU - Preda, Lorenzo
AU - Argenone, Angela
AU - Caspiani, Orietta
AU - Micera, Renato
AU - Ruo Redda, Maria G.
AU - Russi, Elvio G.
AU - Bianchi, Ernestina
AU - Orlandi, Ester
AU - Bacigalupo, Almalina
AU - Busetto, Mario
AU - Cante, Domenico
AU - Deantonio, Letizia
AU - De Sanctis, Vitaliana
AU - Franco, Pierfrancesco
AU - Lastrucci, Luciana
AU - Marucci, Laura
AU - Merlotti, Anna
AU - Molteni, Marinella
AU - Pajar, Fabiola
AU - Rampino, Monica
AU - Santoro, Luigi
AU - Ferrari, Annamaria
AU - Bazzani, Federica
AU - Caputo, Mariangela
AU - Laudati, Antonio
AU - Borzillo, Valentina
AU - Falivene, Sara
AU - Simoni, Nicola
AU - Vigo, Federica
AU - Iannacone, Eva
AU - Reali, Alessia
AU - Bonanni, Alessio
AU - Leone, Mariavittoria
AU - Giannello, Luca
AU - Taglianti, Riccardo Vigna
AU - Orecchia, Roberto
PY - 2014/9/1
Y1 - 2014/9/1
N2 - Background and purpose Irradiation of the Pharyngeal Superior Constrictor Muscle (PSCM) seems to play a crucial role in radiation-related swallowing dysfunctions. Purpose of our study was to quantify operator-related variability in the contouring of PSCM on Computed Tomography (CT) scans and adherence with contours derived from MR images. Materials and methods Three sets of treatment planning CT and their corresponding MR images were selected. Contouring of the PSCM was performed using both a literature-based method, derived from literature review, and an optimized method, derived from Magnetic Resonance (MR) images thus obtaining "literature-based" and "optimized" contours. Each operator contoured the PSCM on CT scans according to both methods for three times in three different days. Inter- and intra-operator variability and adherence to a contour obtained from MR images (named "MR-derived" contour) were analyzed. Results Thirty-four operators participated and 612 contours were obtained. Both intra- and inter-operator variability and adherence to the "MR-derived" contour were significantly different between the two methods (p ≤ 0.05). The "optimized" method showed a lower intra- and inter-operator variability and a higher adherence to the "MR-derived" contour. Conclusions The "optimized" method ameliorates both operator-related variability and adherence with MR images.
AB - Background and purpose Irradiation of the Pharyngeal Superior Constrictor Muscle (PSCM) seems to play a crucial role in radiation-related swallowing dysfunctions. Purpose of our study was to quantify operator-related variability in the contouring of PSCM on Computed Tomography (CT) scans and adherence with contours derived from MR images. Materials and methods Three sets of treatment planning CT and their corresponding MR images were selected. Contouring of the PSCM was performed using both a literature-based method, derived from literature review, and an optimized method, derived from Magnetic Resonance (MR) images thus obtaining "literature-based" and "optimized" contours. Each operator contoured the PSCM on CT scans according to both methods for three times in three different days. Inter- and intra-operator variability and adherence to a contour obtained from MR images (named "MR-derived" contour) were analyzed. Results Thirty-four operators participated and 612 contours were obtained. Both intra- and inter-operator variability and adherence to the "MR-derived" contour were significantly different between the two methods (p ≤ 0.05). The "optimized" method showed a lower intra- and inter-operator variability and a higher adherence to the "MR-derived" contour. Conclusions The "optimized" method ameliorates both operator-related variability and adherence with MR images.
KW - Dysphagia
KW - Head and neck cancer
KW - IMRT
KW - Pharyngeal constrictor muscles
KW - Toxicity
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U2 - 10.1016/j.radonc.2014.05.016
DO - 10.1016/j.radonc.2014.05.016
M3 - Article
C2 - 25005577
AN - SCOPUS:84911991976
VL - 112
SP - 337
EP - 342
JO - Radiotherapy and Oncology
JF - Radiotherapy and Oncology
SN - 0167-8140
IS - 3
ER -