title: Expert radiation oncologist interpretations of involved-site radiation therapy guidelines in the management of Hodgkin lymphoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recently, involved-site radiation therapy (ISRT) guidelines have been developed and published to replace the previous concept of involved-field radiation therapy for patients with lymphoma. However, these ISRT guidelines may be interpreted in different ways, posing difficulties for prospective clinical trials. This study reports survey results regarding interpretation of the ISRT guidelines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-four expert lymphoma radiation oncologists were asked to participate in a survey that included 7 different cases associated with 9 questions. The questions pertained to ISRT contouring and asked respondents to choose between 2 different answers (no "correct" answer) and a third write-in option allowed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-two percent of those surveyed responded to the questionnaire. Among those who responded, 72% have practiced for >10 years, 46% have treated >20 Hodgkin lymphoma cases annually, and 100% were familiar with the ISRT concept. Among the 9 questions associated with the 7 cases, 3 had concordance among the expert radiation oncologists of greater than 70%. Six of the questions had less than 70% concordance (range, 56%-67%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Even among expert radiation oncologists, interpretation of ISRT guidelines is variable. Further guidance for ISRT field design will be needed to reduce variability among practicing physicians.
authors: University of Florida Health Proton Therapy Institute, Jacksonville, Florida.
authors: Bradford S
authors: BS
authors: Hoppe
authors: Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford, California. Electronic address: rhoppe@stanford.edu.
authors: Richard T
authors: RT
authors: Hoppe
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D032921:Consensus; D003964:Diaphragm; D006119:Groin; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D007085:Ilium; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D015182:Lymphatic Irradiation / Q000592:standards; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D018787:Radiation Oncology / Q000592:standards*; D011859:Radiography