Pilot Study Demonstrating the Value of Interdisciplinary Education on the Integration of Radiation Therapy in Lung Cancer Management.

This study aimed to understand baseline knowledge of basic principles of radiation therapy for lung cancer among medical oncology, thoracic surgery, and pulmonology trainees and practicing physicians and also assess whether a didactic lecture will improve objective knowledge and perceived comfort level in making appropriate referrals to radiation oncology (RO). Radiation oncologists at 8 academic institutions offered a presentation covering indications, logistics, efficacy, and toxicity of thoracic radiation. Participants completed a survey to assess their prior exposures to RO and perceived value of the lecture, and objective knowledge gained based on pre/post-lecture questions.

Can Sex and Seniority Predict the Quality of a Journal Reviewer's Manuscript Critique?

Purpose: To evaluate reviewers' timeliness and review quality for the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics (IJROBP) by sex and seniority.

Methods And Materials: The IJROBP editorial office provided data on 3962 individuals invited to review manuscripts from 2011 through 2014. We identified 1657 reviewers who had been invited to provide a review on at least 3 occasions during the study period and compared review timeliness and scoring between male and female reviewers.

Growth of the Social #RadOnc Network on Twitter.

Purpose: Twitter is an increasingly popular social media platform within the health care community. The objective of this analysis is to characterize the profile of radiation oncology-related tweets and Twitter users over the past 6 years.

Methods And Materials: Using the web-based social media analytics platform Symplur Signals, we filtered tweets containing at least 1 of the following hashtags or key words: #radonc, #radiationoncology, "rad onc," or "radiation oncology.

Risk of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis in patients with brain metastases treated with stereotactic radiosurgery.

There is limited available literature examining factors that predispose patients to the development of LMC after stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for brain metastases. We sought to evaluate risk factors that may predispose patients to LMC after SRS treatment in this case-control study of patients with brain metastases who underwent single-fraction SRS between 2011 and 2016. Demographic and clinical information were collected retrospectively for 19 LMC cases and 30 controls out of 413 screened patients with brain metastases.

Tweet for the cure: A snapshot of Twitter usage by 3 U.S. oncologic professional societies.

Purpose: Medical societies are incorporating Twitter to communicate with their members and connect with patients. This study compares the online presence of 3 major oncologic societies.

Methods And Materials: All available tweets in 2014 by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), and Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) were collected.

: Success to date and future plans.

was launched as a new, peer-reviewed scientific journal in December 2015. More than 200 manuscripts have been submitted and 97 accepted for publication as of May 2017. As enters its second year of publication, we have chosen to highlight subjects that will transform the way we practice radiation oncology in special issues or ongoing series: immunotherapy, biomedical analytics, and social media.

Breast conservation therapy for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS): does presentation of disease affect long-term outcomes?

Background: For DCIS patients eligible for breast conservation treatment (BCT), it remains unclear whether presenting with physical signs/symptoms (Phys) confers a worse long-term prognosis compared to mammographically detected DCIS (Mam).

Methods: We collected data on 669 DCIS patients treated with BCT from 1974 to 2007 of whom 80 were identified as category "Phys" and 589 were in category "Mam."

Results: Treatment parameters (i.

Radiation dose escalation for loco-regional recurrence of breast cancer after mastectomy.

Background: Radiation is a standard component of treatment for patients with locoregional recurrence (LRR) of breast cancer following mastectomy. The current study reports the results of a 10% radiation dose escalation in these patients.

Methods: 159 patients treated at MD Anderson Cancer Center between 1994-2006 with isolated LRR after mastectomy alone were reviewed.

Multi-institutional experience of ductal carcinoma in situ in black vs white patients treated with breast-conserving surgery and whole breast radiation therapy.

Purpose: Given the paucity of data on racial disparities in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), the data from a multi-institutional cohort of DCIS patients treated with breast-conserving surgery and whole breast radiation therapy (RT) were analyzed to determine whether racial disparities or differences exist.

Methods And Materials: A total of 533 white and 76 black DCIS patients from 3 university-based cancer centers were uniformly treated with breast-conserving surgery and RT. All patient data were collected and analyzed as a function of race.

Concurrent segmentation of the prostate on MRI and CT via linked statistical shape models for radiotherapy planning.

Purpose: Prostate gland segmentation is a critical step in prostate radiotherapy planning, where dose plans are typically formulated on CT. Pretreatment MRI is now beginning to be acquired at several medical centers. Delineation of the prostate on MRI is acknowledged as being significantly simpler to perform, compared to delineation on CT.

Ductal carcinoma in situ treated with breast-conserving surgery and radiotherapy: a comparison with ECOG study 5194.

Background: Recent data from Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Study 5194 (E5194) prospectively defined a low-risk subset of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) patients where radiation therapy was omitted after lumpectomy alone. The purpose of the study was to determine the ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) in DCIS patients who met the criteria of E5194 treated with lumpectomy and adjuvant whole breast radiation therapy (RT).

Methods: A total of 263 patients with DCIS were treated between 1980 and 2009 who met the enrollment criteria for E5194: 1) low to intermediate grade (LIG) with size >0.

Ductal carcinoma in situ treated with breast-conserving surgery and accelerated partial breast irradiation: comparison of the Mammosite registry trial with intergroup study E5194.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) patients treated in the American Society of Breast Surgeons MammoSite Breast Brachytherapy Registry Trial who met the criteria for E5194 treated with local excision and adjuvant accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI).

Methods: A total of 194 patients with DCIS were treated between 2002 and 2004 in the Mammosite registry trial; of these, 70 patients met the enrollment criteria for E5194: 1) low to intermediate grade (LIG)-pathological size >0.3 but <2.

Multi-institutional review of repeat irradiation of chest wall and breast for recurrent breast cancer.

Purpose: To review the toxicity and clinical outcomes for patients who underwent repeat chest wall or breast irradiation (RT) after local recurrence.

Methods And Materials: Between 1993 and 2005, 81 patients underwent repeat RT of the breast or chest wall for locally recurrent breast cancer at eight institutions. The median dose of the first course of RT was 60 Gy and was 48 Gy for the second course.

The impact of immediate breast reconstruction on the technical delivery of postmastectomy radiotherapy.

Purpose: To quantify the impact of immediate breast reconstruction on postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) planning.

Methods: A total of 110 patients (112 treatment plans) who had mastectomy with immediate reconstruction followed by radiotherapy were compared with contemporaneous stage-matched patients who had undergone mastectomy without intervening reconstruction. A scoring system was used to assess optimal radiotherapy planning using four parameters: breadth of chest wall coverage, treatment of the ipsilateral internal mammary chain, minimization of lung, and avoidance of heart.