PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - LUCIANA CARAVATTA
AU  - MARCO LUPATTELLI
AU  - GIOVANNA MANTELLO
AU  - MARIA ANTONIETTA GAMBACORTA
AU  - GIUDITTA CHILOIRO
AU  - MONICA DI TOMMASO
AU  - CONSUELO ROSA
AU  - LUCREZIA GASPARINI
AU  - ALESSIO GIUSEPPE MORGANTI
AU  - VINCENZO PICARDI
AU  - RITA MARINA NIESPOLO
AU  - MATTIA FALCHETTO OSTI
AU  - SABRINA MONTRONE
AU  - NICOLA SIMONI
AU  - CATERINA BOSO
AU  - FRANCESCA FACCHIN
AU  - MARIA ASSUNTA DEIDDA
AU  - CRISTINA PIVA
AU  - CESARE GUIDA
AU  - LUIGI ZICCARELLI
AU  - FERNANDO MUNOZ
AU  - GIOVANNI BATTISTA IVALDI
AU  - VANIA MARCHETTI
AU  - PAOLA FRANZONE
AU  - CORRADO SPATOLA
AU  - PIERFRANCESCO FRANCO
AU  - VITTORIO DONATO
AU  - DOMENICO GENOVESI
AU  - on behalf of Gastrointestinal Study Group of AIRO (Italian Association of Radiation Oncology and Clinical Oncology)
TI  - Treatment Volume, Dose Prescription and Delivery Techniques for Dose-intensification in Rectal Cancer: A National Survey
AID  - 10.21873/anticanres.14966
DP  - 2021 Apr 01
TA  - Anticancer Research
PG  - 1985--1995
VI  - 41
IP  - 4
4099  - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/41/4/1985.short
4100  - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/41/4/1985.full
SO  - Anticancer Res2021 Apr 01; 41
AB  - Background/Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate boost volume definition, doses, and delivery techniques for rectal cancer dose intensification. Patients and Methods: An online survey was made on 25 items (characteristics, simulation, imaging, volumes, doses, planning and treatment). Results: Thirty-eight radiation oncologists joined the study. Twenty-one delivered long-course radiotherapy with dose intensification. Boost volume was delineated on diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 18 centres (85.7%), and computed tomography (CT) and/or positron emission tomography-CT in 9 (42.8%); 16 centres (76.2%) performed co-registration with CT-simulation. Boost dose was delivered on gross tumor volume in 10 centres (47.6%) and on clinical target volume in 11 (52.4%). The most common total dose was 54-55 Gy (71.4%), with moderate hypofractionation (85.7%). Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) was used in all centres, with simultaneous integrated boost in 17 (80.8%) and image-guidance in 18 (85.7%). Conclusion: A high quality of treatment using dose escalation can be inferred by widespread multidisciplinary discussion, MRI-based treatment volume delineation, and radiation delivery relying on IMRT with accurate image-guided radiation therapy protocols.