Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31279941›Full record

ArticlePractical radiation oncology2019

Practice Patterns Among Radiation Oncologists Treating Pediatric Patients With Proton Craniospinal Irradiation.

Sara Medek, Brian De, Luke Pater, John Breneman, Anita Mahajan, Suzanne Wolden, Ralph E Vatner

Open access · greenAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Practical radiation oncology, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
1.5field-weighted citation impact, top 16% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

Sara MedekDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Brian DeMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
Luke PaterDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio.
John BrenemanDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Anita MahajanMayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
Suzanne WoldenMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
Ralph E VatnerDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio; Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio. Electronic address: vatnerrh@ucmail.uc.edu.
University of Cincinnati Medical Center · USMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center · USCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center · USMayo Clinic · US

Funding

X-RAY CRYSTALLOGRAPHYP30CA008748 · NCI · SLOAN-KETTERING INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RES · PI Nicholas D Socci · 1985 to 2026
$347.4M
NCI NIH HHS P30 CA008748
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeCraniospinal irradiation (CSI) is an important component of therapy for many pediatric central nervous system malignancies. Proton therapy is increasingly available and used for minimizing radiation exposure to normal tissues. The absence of an exit dose with proton therapy mandates decisions regarding coverage of the vertebral bodies (VB) in non-skeletally mature patients. Although the contents within the thecal sac represent the true clinical target volume (CTV), some physicians target the entire VB in growing children because of concerns over asymmetrical growth. This study aims to assess current practice patterns regarding VB coverage for pediatric patients undergoing CSI. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Pediatric radiation oncologists were identified from the Particle Therapy Co-Operative Group pediatric subcommittee membership or affiliation with US proton centers. Potential participants were contacted by e-mail with a link to an institutional review board-approved, anonymized web-based survey distributed in June 2017 with follow-up in October 2017. The survey used skip logic and included up to 11 questions regarding practice patterns.

resultsThirty-three physicians responded to the survey (39%), 5 of which were excluded for lack of recent pediatric proton CSI experience. Of the 28 included responses, 23 physicians sometimes treat the entire VB and 5 physicians report always treating the entire VB. Most common responses regarding anterior CTV expansion for uncertainty were no expansion (n = 9) and 3 to 4 mm (n = 8). Most physicians modify the anterior CTV margin to protect normal structures, most commonly esophagus (n = 15), thyroid (n = 6), heart (n = 5), bowel (n = 4), and pharynx (n = 2).

conclusionsVertebral body coverage in proton CSI varies among radiation oncologists in respect to target delineation, CTV expansions, and modifications for organs at risk. These data suggest the radiation oncology community may benefit from a standardized approach to pediatric proton-based CSI.

Indexed as

AdolescentChildCraniospinal IrradiationFemaleHumansMaleProton TherapyRadiation Oncologists

Identifiers

PMID31279941
PMCPMC8189536
OpenAlexW2954342010

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.