Abstract
Purpose: To examine interobserver variability between the radiation oncologist (RTO) and the radiation therapist (RTT) in delineating the tumor bed (TB) in early breast cancer (BC). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients who received a radiotherapy boost to the TB. In a first group, the clinical target volume (CTV) for the boost was the surgical bed, defined by using surgical clips. In a second group, the CTV was defined by identifying a seroma cavity or a metallic find on the scar. These contours were compared in terms of volume, number of slices, and Dice similarity coefficient (DSC). Results: Forty patients were assessed: 20 had surgical clips (group 1) while the other 20 had none (group 2). There was no difference in the number of slices contoured by the 2 operators for group 1, but a statistically significant difference emerged in the volumes: the RTT identified a TB that was a mean 45% smaller than the one identified by the RTO. Random differences were found between the 2 operators for group 2. The TBs delineated for this group were significantly larger (P<0.05) than those identified by the RTT for group 1. The mean Dice value between the RTO’s and the RTT’s TBs was 0.69±0.07 (range 0.53–0.81) for group 1 and 0.37±0.18 (range 0–0.58) for group 2 (P<0.05). Conclusions: This study showed that the use of clips coincided with less interoperator variability. With appropriate training, the RTT may play an important part in the multidisciplinary radiotherapy team.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 210-215 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Tumori |
| Volume | 105 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 1 2019 |
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Keywords
- Breast cancer
- interobserver variability
- surgical clips
- tumor bed delineation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oncology
- Cancer Research
Cite this
Interobserver variability (between radiation oncologist and radiation therapist) in tumor bed contouring after breast-conserving surgery. / La Rocca, Eliana; Lici, Vanessa; Giandini, Tommaso; Bonfantini, Francesca; Frasca, Sarah; Dispinzieri, Michela; Gennaro, Massimiliano; Di Cosimo, Serena; Lozza, Laura; Pignoli, Emanuele; Valdagni, Riccardo; De Santis, Maria Carmen.
In: Tumori, Vol. 105, No. 3, 01.06.2019, p. 210-215.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Interobserver variability (between radiation oncologist and radiation therapist) in tumor bed contouring after breast-conserving surgery
AU - La Rocca, Eliana
AU - Lici, Vanessa
AU - Giandini, Tommaso
AU - Bonfantini, Francesca
AU - Frasca, Sarah
AU - Dispinzieri, Michela
AU - Gennaro, Massimiliano
AU - Di Cosimo, Serena
AU - Lozza, Laura
AU - Pignoli, Emanuele
AU - Valdagni, Riccardo
AU - De Santis, Maria Carmen
PY - 2019/6/1
Y1 - 2019/6/1
N2 - Purpose: To examine interobserver variability between the radiation oncologist (RTO) and the radiation therapist (RTT) in delineating the tumor bed (TB) in early breast cancer (BC). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients who received a radiotherapy boost to the TB. In a first group, the clinical target volume (CTV) for the boost was the surgical bed, defined by using surgical clips. In a second group, the CTV was defined by identifying a seroma cavity or a metallic find on the scar. These contours were compared in terms of volume, number of slices, and Dice similarity coefficient (DSC). Results: Forty patients were assessed: 20 had surgical clips (group 1) while the other 20 had none (group 2). There was no difference in the number of slices contoured by the 2 operators for group 1, but a statistically significant difference emerged in the volumes: the RTT identified a TB that was a mean 45% smaller than the one identified by the RTO. Random differences were found between the 2 operators for group 2. The TBs delineated for this group were significantly larger (P<0.05) than those identified by the RTT for group 1. The mean Dice value between the RTO’s and the RTT’s TBs was 0.69±0.07 (range 0.53–0.81) for group 1 and 0.37±0.18 (range 0–0.58) for group 2 (P<0.05). Conclusions: This study showed that the use of clips coincided with less interoperator variability. With appropriate training, the RTT may play an important part in the multidisciplinary radiotherapy team.
AB - Purpose: To examine interobserver variability between the radiation oncologist (RTO) and the radiation therapist (RTT) in delineating the tumor bed (TB) in early breast cancer (BC). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients who received a radiotherapy boost to the TB. In a first group, the clinical target volume (CTV) for the boost was the surgical bed, defined by using surgical clips. In a second group, the CTV was defined by identifying a seroma cavity or a metallic find on the scar. These contours were compared in terms of volume, number of slices, and Dice similarity coefficient (DSC). Results: Forty patients were assessed: 20 had surgical clips (group 1) while the other 20 had none (group 2). There was no difference in the number of slices contoured by the 2 operators for group 1, but a statistically significant difference emerged in the volumes: the RTT identified a TB that was a mean 45% smaller than the one identified by the RTO. Random differences were found between the 2 operators for group 2. The TBs delineated for this group were significantly larger (P<0.05) than those identified by the RTT for group 1. The mean Dice value between the RTO’s and the RTT’s TBs was 0.69±0.07 (range 0.53–0.81) for group 1 and 0.37±0.18 (range 0–0.58) for group 2 (P<0.05). Conclusions: This study showed that the use of clips coincided with less interoperator variability. With appropriate training, the RTT may play an important part in the multidisciplinary radiotherapy team.
KW - Breast cancer
KW - interobserver variability
KW - surgical clips
KW - tumor bed delineation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85067906019&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85067906019&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0300891619839288
DO - 10.1177/0300891619839288
M3 - Article
C2 - 30915903
AN - SCOPUS:85067906019
VL - 105
SP - 210
EP - 215
JO - Tumori
JF - Tumori
SN - 0300-8916
IS - 3
ER -