Neuroradiology-Based Peer Review Deemed Vital for Head and Neck Radiotherapy Planning

New research co-authored by UCSF Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging’s Christine Glastonbury, MD, demonstrates the value of adopting multi-disciplinary teams that include radiologists and other medical specialists. The paper, published in the American Journal of Neuroradiology, highlights the vital nature of collaborative rounding--specifically for head and neck radiation therapy planning.

Dr. Glastonbury, professor of clinical radiology, otolaryngology head and neck surgery, and radiation oncology, and her colleagues instituted weekly treatment planning quality assurance rounds as a joint enterprise of head and neck radiation oncology and neuroradiology. The team found that when the planning of CT and associated target volumes was reviewed in comparison with diagnostic imaging studies, 55% of cases were altered based on the diagnostic imaging studies. This led the researchers to conclude that a collaborative approach to the planning of head and neck treatment quality assurance has an impact and that specific cases warrant intensive imaging-based review in collaboration with a diagnostic neuroradiologist.

UCSF is committed to a collaborative approach to both research and clinical medicine. When different clinical subspecialties, departments, and medical centers work together, the medical community thrives and patient care is enhanced. Watch this video to learn more about the significance of coordinated teamwork at UCSF.

For more information about this study, read the abstract for Impact of Neuroradiology-Based Peer Review on Head and Neck Radiotherapy Target Delineation.