TY - JOUR
T1 - 3D Variation in delineation of head and neck organs at risk
AU - Brouwer, C.L.
AU - Steenbakkers, R.J.H.M.
AU - Heuvel, van den, E.R.
AU - Duppen, J.C.
AU - Navran, A.
AU - Bijl, H.P.
AU - Chouvalova, O.
AU - Burlage, F.R.
AU - Meertens, H.
AU - Langendijk, J.A.
AU - Veld, van 't, A.A.
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - Background
Consistent delineation of patient anatomy becomes increasingly important with the growing use of highly conformal and adaptive radiotherapy techniques. This study investigates the magnitude and 3D localization of interobserver variability of organs at risk (OARs) in the head and neck area with application of delineation guidelines, to establish measures to reduce current redundant variability in delineation practice.
Methods
Interobserver variability among five experienced radiation oncologists was studied in a set of 12 head and neck patient CT scans for the spinal cord, parotid and submandibular glands, thyroid cartilage, and glottic larynx. For all OARs, three endpoints were calculated: the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), the Concordance Index (CI) and a 3D measure of variation (3D SD).
Results
All endpoints showed largest interobserver variability for the glottic larynx (ICC = 0.27, mean CI = 0.37 and 3D SD = 3.9 mm). Better agreement in delineations was observed for the other OARs (range, ICC = 0.32-0.83, mean CI = 0.64-0.71 and 3D SD = 0.9-2.6 mm). Cranial, caudal, and medial regions of the OARs showed largest variations. All endpoints provided support for improvement of delineation practice.
Conclusions
Variation in delineation is traced to several regional causes. Measures to reduce this variation can be: (1) guideline development, (2) joint delineation review sessions and (3) application of multimodality imaging. Improvement of delineation practice is needed to standardize patient treatments.
Keywords: Interobserver variability; Interobserver agreement; Head and neck cancer; Organs at risk; Delineation
AB - Background
Consistent delineation of patient anatomy becomes increasingly important with the growing use of highly conformal and adaptive radiotherapy techniques. This study investigates the magnitude and 3D localization of interobserver variability of organs at risk (OARs) in the head and neck area with application of delineation guidelines, to establish measures to reduce current redundant variability in delineation practice.
Methods
Interobserver variability among five experienced radiation oncologists was studied in a set of 12 head and neck patient CT scans for the spinal cord, parotid and submandibular glands, thyroid cartilage, and glottic larynx. For all OARs, three endpoints were calculated: the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), the Concordance Index (CI) and a 3D measure of variation (3D SD).
Results
All endpoints showed largest interobserver variability for the glottic larynx (ICC = 0.27, mean CI = 0.37 and 3D SD = 3.9 mm). Better agreement in delineations was observed for the other OARs (range, ICC = 0.32-0.83, mean CI = 0.64-0.71 and 3D SD = 0.9-2.6 mm). Cranial, caudal, and medial regions of the OARs showed largest variations. All endpoints provided support for improvement of delineation practice.
Conclusions
Variation in delineation is traced to several regional causes. Measures to reduce this variation can be: (1) guideline development, (2) joint delineation review sessions and (3) application of multimodality imaging. Improvement of delineation practice is needed to standardize patient treatments.
Keywords: Interobserver variability; Interobserver agreement; Head and neck cancer; Organs at risk; Delineation
U2 - 10.1186/1748-717X-7-32
DO - 10.1186/1748-717X-7-32
M3 - Article
C2 - 22414264
SN - 1748-717X
VL - 7
SP - 1
EP - 9
JO - Radiation Oncology
JF - Radiation Oncology
IS - 32
ER -
