title: Factors influencing radiation treatment recommendations in early-stage Merkel cell carcinoma: a survey of US-based radiation oncologists.
abstract: It is unclear which subgroups of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) patients benefit the most from radiation. We surveyed radiation oncologists (RO) that regularly see and treat MCC to understand how they approach the treatment of early-stage MCC.
  
  
  
  A web-based survey was emailed to 63 ROs, who were identified through publications, guideline panel membership, and/or affiliation with institutions of high MCC volume. ROs provided treatment recommendations for two hypothetical case scenarios of early stage MCC.
  
  
  
  Among 28 respondents (45%), 26 regularly saw and treated MCC patients for a median 7 years (range, 0-30). While all ROs recommended adjuvant radiation for a stage II upper extremity MCC, only 48% recommended adjuvant radiation for stage I head and neck MCC.
  
  
  
  Among US-based MCC RO 'specialists,' there is equipoise on the role of radiotherapy for stage I MCC. Ideally, prospective studies are needed to identify which patients may benefit from radiation.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA (YDT, SA, JJL, UP); Department of Medicine (Medical Oncology), University of Washington, Seattle, WA (SB); Division of Dermatology , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA.
authors.forename: Yolanda D
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.affiliation: a Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA (YDT, SA, JJL, UP); Department of Medicine (Medical Oncology), University of Washington, Seattle, WA (SB); Division of Dermatology , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA.
authors.forename: Smith
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Apisarnthanarax
authors.affiliation: a Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA (YDT, SA, JJL, UP); Department of Medicine (Medical Oncology), University of Washington, Seattle, WA (SB); Division of Dermatology , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA.
authors.forename: Jay J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: a Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA (YDT, SA, JJL, UP); Department of Medicine (Medical Oncology), University of Washington, Seattle, WA (SB); Division of Dermatology , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA.
authors.forename: Shailender
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhatia
authors.affiliation: a Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA (YDT, SA, JJL, UP); Department of Medicine (Medical Oncology), University of Washington, Seattle, WA (SB); Division of Dermatology , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA.
authors.forename: Paul T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Nghiem
authors.affiliation: a Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA (YDT, SA, JJL, UP); Department of Medicine (Medical Oncology), University of Washington, Seattle, WA (SB); Division of Dermatology , University of Washington , Seattle , WA , USA.
authors.forename: Upendra
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Parvathaneni
mesh_terms: D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000072378:Radiation Oncologists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000379:methods; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D014481:United States; D034941:Upper Extremity
keywords: Merkel cell carcinoma; adjuvant treatment; early stage; radiation; surgery