Outcomes and potential impact of a virtual hands-on training program on MRI staging confidence and performance in rectal cancer

Reliability of rectal MRI radiomic features: Comparing rectal MRI radiomic features across reader expertise levels, image segmentation technique, and timing of rectal MRI in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer

OBJECTIVES

To assess the reliability of rectal MRI radiomic features across reader expertise level, image segmentation technique, and timing of rectal MRI.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This retrospective single-institutional study included consecutive patients with rectal adenocarcinoma who underwent total neoadjuvant therapy from January 2018 to June 2018. Baseline and restaging rectal MRI T2-weighted images were segmented independently by six radiologists (two fellows, two non-rectal radiologists, and two rectal radiologists). Four segmentation strategies were used and varied by image segmentation technique and timing of rectal MRI: (a) baseline volume of interest (VOI), (b) baseline region of interest (ROI), (c) restaging VOI, and (d) restaging ROI. Inter-reader agreement on each extracted radiomic feature was evaluated using the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC).

RESULTS

Among 24 patients (16 men; median age, 56 years [interquartile range: 49-62]), 1,595 radiomic features were extracted. Baseline VOI segmentation achieved the highest inter-reader agreement rate, with 68 % (1,079/1,595) of radiomic features having an ICC > 0.7. Restaging ROI segmentation achieved the worst inter-reader agreement rate, with only 26 % (415/1,595) of radiomic features having an ICC > 0.7. First-order statistics and Gray Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM) feature subgroups showed high inter-reader agreement rates, and the application of 'Square Root' and 'LOG Sigma' filters resulted in improved inter-reader agreement rates relative to original images. The expertise level of radiologists performing the segmentations did not affect the distribution of inter-agreement rates according to image segmentation technique or timing of rectal MRI.

CONCLUSIONS

Radiomic features were more reliable when extracted from baseline (vs. restaging) rectal MRIs and using 3D volume of interest (vs. 2D region of interest) segmentation, independent of the expertise level of the radiologists performing the segmentation.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT

Radiomic studies on rectal MRI employ various segmentation strategies and few assess their impact on reproducibility. Establishing the optimal segmentation method enhances radiomics model generalizability, potentially bridging the gap in clinical translation and improving clinical management of patients.

Increasing pediatric radiation oncology capacity in sub-saharan Africa using technology: a pilot of a pediatric radiation oncology virtual training course

BACKGROUND

The shortage of skilled healthcare professionals in pediatric oncology and the limited access to training programs remain significant challenges in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa. The the Pediatric Radiation Oncology (Virtual) Course, 'PedROC' project aims to contribute to improving pediatric cancer outcomes in Nigeria by increasing the capacity of radiation oncology professionals. To address the gap in access to pediatric radiation oncology professional development, the PedROC project was created, harnessing technology to improve radiation oncology training via a curriculum delivered through web-conferencing. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the PedROC pilot in enhancing the capacity, confidence, and skill of radiation oncologists in decision-making, prescribing, and treatment planning of radiotherapy for children diagnosed with cancer.

METHODS

A multidisciplinary faculty of specialists in radiation oncology, pediatric oncology, oncology nursing, radiation therapy technology, and medical physics collaborated to identify the key learning needs in pediatric radiation oncology in the country. The team collaborated to develop a comprehensive curriculum covering the most common pediatric cancers in sub-Saharan Africa for the training program. The training course was conducted over two days, delivering twenty-four half-hour sessions for a total of 12 h, from July 31 to August 01, 2021.

RESULTS

Analysis of pre and post - training surveys showed a significant increase in self-reported confidence measures across all domains among radiation oncologists. The program successfully improved participants' knowledge and confidence levels in managing common pediatric cancers using radiotherapy, particularly addressing radiotherapy-specific issues such as appropriate dose, target volume delineation, treatment planning, dose constraints, and plan evaluation.

CONCLUSION

The PedROC pilot showed the efficacy of this model in enhancing the capacity and confidence of radiation oncology professionals involved in the treatment of pediatric cancer. The findings indicate that technology holds significant potential to increase pediatric radiation oncology capacity in Africa, ensuring improved access to proper treatment and ultimately improving pediatric cancer outcomes.