Reirradiation after radical radiation therapy: a survey of patterns of practice among Canadian radiation oncologists.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to survey the use of reirradiation (Re-RT) for in-field failures after previous radical radiation treatment (RT) among Canadian radiation oncologists (ROs).


METHODS
An electronic survey was sent to 271 ROs in Canada. The completed surveys were received electronically via e-mail and the data were analyzed using SAS 9.1.3 software.


RESULTS
A total of 183 ROs (67.5%) completed and returned the survey. The majority of the respondents were involved in the practice of either breast (48%) or genitourinary (43%) tumor sites. A total of 49% of the participants were interested in using Re-RT for the management of in-field recurrences. The goals of the therapy would be improvement of quality of life (99%), locoregional control (80%), or cure (32%). Most of the physicians believed that patients should have a minimum Karnofsky performance status of 50 or Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 3, a minimum life expectancy of 3 months, and a minimum interval from initial treatment of 3 months if Re-RT were to be given with curative intent.


CONCLUSIONS
This survey showed that a wide variation existed among ROs in their approach to Re-RT. Newer technologies in RT planning and delivery would be employed to facilitate normal tissue avoidance. The results of this study suggested that a consensus meeting was needed to establish guidelines for the practice and prospective evaluation of Re-RT.
Joseph
Kurian Jones
KJ
Cross Cancer Institute & University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Al-Mandhari
Zahid
Z
Pervez
Nadeem
N
Parliament
Matthew
M
Wu
Jackson
J
Ghosh
Sunita
S
Tai
Patricia
P
Lian
Jidong
J
Levin
Wilfred
W
D000367:Age Factors; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002170:Canada; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004581:Electronics; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008511:Medicine; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018579:Patient Selection; D018787:Radiation Oncology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D019233:Retreatment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012984:Software; D013038:Specialization; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014565:Urogenital Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*