Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39120747›Full record

ArticleStrahlentherapie und Onkologie : Organ der Deutschen Rontgengesellschaft ... [et al]2024

Implementation of PET/CT in radiation oncology-a patterns-of-care analysis of the German Society of Nuclear Medicine and the German Society of Radiation Oncology.

Simone Wegen, Ursula Nestle, Constantinos Zamboglou, Simon K B Spohn, Nils Henrik Nicolay, Lena M Unterrainer, Stefan A Koerber, Christian La Fougère, Emmanouil Fokas, Carsten Kobe and 6 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Strahlentherapie und Onkologie : Organ der Deutschen Rontgengesellschaft ... [et al], 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. 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

16 authors.

Simone WegenCenter for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. simone.wegen@uk-koeln.de.ORCID 0000-0002-0361-728X
Ursula NestleDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Kliniken Maria Hilf, Mönchengladbach, Germany.
Constantinos ZamboglouDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Simon K B SpohnDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Nils Henrik NicolayDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
Lena M UnterrainerDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
Stefan A KoerberDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
Christian La FougèreNuclear Medicine and Clinical Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
Emmanouil FokasCenter for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Carsten KobeDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Chukwuka EzeDepartment of Radiation Oncology, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
Anca-Ligia GrosuDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Wolfgang P FendlerDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
Adrien HolzgreveDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
Rudolf WernerDivison of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.
Nina-Sophie Schmidt-HegemannDepartment of Radiation Oncology, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe use of positron-emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in radiation therapy (RT) has increased. Radiation oncologists (RadOncs) have access to PET/CT with a variety of tracers for different tumor entities and use it for target volume definition. The German Society of Nuclear Medicine (DGN) and the German Society of Radiation Oncology (DEGRO) aimed to identify current patterns of care in order to improve interdisciplinary collaboration.

methodsWe created an online survey on participating RadOncs' use of PET tracers for different tumor entities and how they affect RT indication, dose prescription, and target volume definition. Further topics were reimbursement of PET/CT and organizational information (fixed timeslots and use of PET with an immobilization device [planning/RT-PET]). The survey contained 31 questions in German language (yes/no questions, multiple choice [MC] questions, multiple select [MS] questions, and free-text entry options). The survey was distributed twice via the DEGRO member mailing list.

resultsDuring the survey period (May 22-August 7, 2023) a total of 156 RadOncs (13% of respondents) answered the survey. Among these, 59% reported access to diagnostic PET/CT within their organization/clinic and 24% have fixed timeslots for their patients. 37% of survey participants can perform RT-PET and 29% have the option of providing a dedicated RT technician for planning PET. Besides [ DISCUSSION: This is the first nationwide survey on the role of PET/CT for RT planning among RadOncs in Germany. We find high acceptance of PET results for treatment decisions and target volume definition. Planning PET comes with logistic challenges for different healthcare settings (e.g., private practices vs. university hospitals). The decision to request PET/CT is often based on the possibility of reimbursement.

conclusionPET/CT has become an important tool for RadOncs, with several indications. However, access is still limited at several sites, especially for dedicated RT-PET. This study aims to improve interdisciplinary cooperation and adequate implementation of current guidelines for the treatment of various tumor entities.

Indexed as

Nuclear MedicinePositron Emission Tomography Computed TomographyRadiation OncologyGermanyHumansMaleNeoplasmsPractice Patterns, Physicians'Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-AssistedSocieties, MedicalSurveys and QuestionnairesGermanyPET/CTPlanning PETReimbursementSurvey

Identifiers

PMID39120747
PMCPMC11527913

What OpenQuestion holds

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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.