Quality of radiotherapy reporting in randomized controlled trials of Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a systematic review.
OBJECTIVE
Standards for the reporting of radiotherapy details in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are lacking. Although radiotherapy (RT) is an important component of curative therapy for Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), we postulated that RT reporting may be inadequate in Phase III HL and NHL trials.


METHODS
We searched PubMed and the Cochrane registry for reports of RCTs involving RT and either HL or NHL published between 1998 and 2007. We screened 133 titles and abstracts to identify relevant studies. We included a total of 61 reports. We assessed these reports for the presence of six quality measures: target volume, radiation dose, fractionation, radiation prescription, quality assurance (QA) process use, and adherence to QA (i.e., reporting of major or minor deviations).


RESULTS
Of 61 reports, 23 (38%) described the target volume. Of the 42 reports involving involved-field RT alone, only 8 (19%) adequately described the target volume. The radiation dose and fractionation was described in most reports (54 reports [89%] and 39 reports [64%], respectively). Thirteen reports specified the RT prescription point (21%). Only 12 reports (20%) described using a RT QA process, and 7 reports (11%) described adherence to the QA process.


CONCLUSIONS
Reporting of RT in HL and NHL RCTs is deficient. Because the interpretation, replication, and application of RCT results depend on adequate description and QA of therapeutic interventions, consensus standards for RT reporting should be developed and integrated into the peer-review process.
Bekelman
Justin E
JE
Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
Yahalom
Joachim
J
D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic / Q000592:standards; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D055656:Prescriptions / Q000592:standards; D011643:Publishing / Q000592:standards*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D018787:Radiation Oncology / Q000592:standards*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D047368:Tumor Burden