Survey of the current practices for neonatal gastrointestinal contrast studies in Australia

A wide range of contrast agents with varying osmolality (290–849 mmol/kg) and iodine content (150–370 mg/mL) are currently available for neonatal gastrointestinal contrast studies. A nationwide survey was hence conducted to identify current practices. A questionnaire was mailed to the 22 Australian neonatal units registered with the Australian and New Zealand Neonatal Network. Seventeen (72%) of the 22 units responded to the questionnaire and 54% had some guidelines for term neonates. No unit had a specific policy for preterm neonates. Seventy‐seven per cent of the respondents used a contrast agent with a high osmolality. There was a wide variation in the volume and dilution of contrast used. Guidelines for gastrointestinal contrast studies in high‐risk neonates are suggested.     

Employment for radiation oncologists in Australia and New Zealand: Recent graduates survey of experiences and perspectives

Introduction

This paper reports the key findings of the first survey of recent Radiation Oncology graduates in Australia, New Zealand (ANZ) and Singapore. It explores their experiences in entering the workforce, challenges and perspectives.

Methods

The survey was conducted in April and May 2016 focusing on graduates from 2013 to 2015. The questions related to relocation, current employment, experiences in finding a job, intentions regarding rural work, job satisfaction and perceptions of the job market.

Results

The response rate was 80% (66/83). Most respondents (72.7%) commenced and completed their training in the same location. The large majority of respondents (91%) were employed with 51% as consultants, 20% as fellows and 15% as locums. Sixty‐four percent of respondents spent more than twelve weeks looking for a consultant position, but this was expected by 80% of respondents. Seventy‐three percent of respondents spent more than four weeks looking for a fellowship position, but this was expected by 90%. Twenty seven percent of respondents lived and worked in a rural area with nearly half of respondents who did not work in a rural area, indicating they would consider so if certain conditions were met. The large majority (75%) were satisfied with their current employment with only seven percent reporting dissatisfaction. Respondents felt that the job market was very competitive because of the large number of trainees and better workforce planning was required to ensure a reasonable balance between workforce supply and demand. Some career guidance and mentorship for readiness for the job market was thought to be beneficial.

Conclusions

This initial survey of recent Radiation Oncology graduates in ANZ and Singapore has revealed the large majority are employed as consultants or fellows, although there is apprehension about a competitive job market. The survey should be repeated on a regular basis to monitor future trends.     

Advantages of blood pool contrast agents in MR angiography: a pictorial review

Gadofosveset trisodium (Ablavar®, formerly Vasovist®) is the first intravascular contrast agent approved for clinical use in peripheral vascular disease. The purpose of this review is to illustrate the clinical uses of gadofosveset‐enhanced magnetic resonance angiography in patients referred for assessment of arteriovenous disease. Superior T1 shortening enables first pass renal and peripheral arteriography of quality comparable with larger doses of extracellular agents. In applications such as thoracic outlet syndrome, there may be other advantages such as superior venous imaging and need for only one injection. Steady‐state delayed imaging provides high resolution mapping of both arterial and venous systems and imaging of multiple territories. A combination of dynamic and delayed steady‐state imaging can provide detailed anatomy and flow characteristics of vascular malformations and mapping for percutaneous sclerotherapy at one investigation. The ability to image in the steady state can provide minimally invasive imaging of thrombo‐occlusive disease of central veins.     

Brachytherapy for cancer of the cervix: An Australian and New Zealand survey of current treatment techniques

Establishing guidelines for the practice of brachytherapy throughout Australia and New Zealand is one of the goals of the Australasian Brachytherapy Group. To better appreciate Australasian resources and conditions, the group conducted a survey in early 2005. The aims were to survey current practices, to emphasize variations in practice and to determine the availability of advanced imaging and treatment methods to assess resources. A survey was sent to all Australian and New Zealand radiotherapy departments. The survey requested details of treatment with respect to external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy, optimization methods, reporting methods, scheduling brachytherapy and access to imaging and methods of work‐up. Thirty‐four departments were contacted with 27 (79%) responses returned. Twenty‐one departments use brachytherapy. Doses and fractionation schedules varied and use of sectional imaging was minimal. Individualized dosimetry is practised in a limited fashion by 60% of the surveyed departments. There is high compliance with International Commission on Radiation Units 38 dose reporting recommendations. All brachytherapy units identified have access to CT and 85% to MRI within the hospital settings. Brachytherapy for cancer of the cervix is, currently, largely based on the Manchester system. The survey did emphasize considerable variation in dose and fractionation schemes between departments. The Australasian Brachytherapy Group subgroup intends to proceed with the process of formulating recommendations for cervix brachytherapy. It is intended that these will cover the use of image‐based planning and treatment, target definition(s), verification of brachytherapy treatments and a uniform dose‐reporting mechanism.     

Febrile neutropenia and related complications in breast cancer patients receiving pegfilgrastim primary prophylaxis versus current practice neutropaenia management: Results from an integrated analysis

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSFs) reduce febrile neutropaenia (FN) incidence but may be used inconsistently in current practice (CP). This study compared the efficacy of pegfilgrastim primary prophylaxis (PPP) with CP neutropaenia management in breast cancer. Individual patient data (N = 2282) from 11 clinical trials and observational studies using chemotherapy regimens with ?15% FN risk and PPP (6 mg, all cycles) or CP (no G-CSF or any cycle G-CSF/pegfilgrastim) were included in an integrated analysis. Most patients received docetaxel-containing regimens. A generalised linear mixed model was fitted (N = 2210). Neutropaenia prophylaxis (PPP versus CP), age and disease stage influenced the incidence of FN. Overall, FN was less frequent with PPP than with CP (odds ratio [OR]: 0.124; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.08, 0.194; P < 0.0001). Odds for cycle 1 FN, dose reductions ? 15% and FN-related hospitalisation were also significantly lower with PPP. These data support PPP in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy with moderately high/high FN risk.     

Study of patients with intravenous contrast extravasation on CT studies, with radiology staff and ward staff cannulations

Introduction: Intravenous (IV) contrast extravasation is an adverse outcome of computed tomography (CT) studies. This study evaluates for any differences in rates of extravasation between radiology (radiographer) staff and ward medical staff cannulations, and secondarily by cannula size and study type. Method: A prospective study of 26 854 studies in adults between September 2004 and April 2008 accumulated 119 extravasations. Patients were divided into two groups, those cannulated by radiology staff and those cannulated by non‐radiology staff. Patients with extravasations were followed for treatment outcomes. Statistical analysis between our groups was undertaken. Results: The total extravasation rate was 0.44%. The extravasation rate for those patients cannulated by radiology staff was 0.34% (n = 11 470 cannulations) and those cannulated by non‐radiology staff was 0.52% (n = 15 384 cannulations). This was not statistically significantly different. The site where most extravasations occurred was at the elbow (71.4%). The injection rate where most extravasations occurred was in the 1–2 mL/s range (42%). No patient required surgical intervention or had any significant morbidity. Conclusion: Radiology radiographer staff can provide safe administration of IV contrast in CT scanning with low rates of extravasation. Extravasation may occur with high or low injection rates and when small or large size cannulas are used.     

Prioritization of radiotherapy in Australia and New Zealand

The purpose of this study was to document how radiation oncology departments in Australia and New Zealand manage extended waiting lists by prioritizing patients for radiotherapy and how these centres define the ‘waiting time’. A literature search on strategies for management of waiting lists in radiotherapy, both locally and internationally, was performed. A collaborative survey of all the radiotherapy departments in Australia and New Zealand was then undertaken. Of the 32 centres surveyed around Australia and New Zealand, 25 (77%) responded. There was considerable variation in the definitions used for ‘waiting times’. Eleven of the 25 centres had formally documented protocols. New Zealand has a national policy for prioritization of patients for radiotherapy. Six centres had verbal protocols. Four centres had no significant waiting times and did not require a protocol for prioritization. One centre prioritized according to clinician discretion, two centres used a first‐come, first‐served basis. One centre replied but their protocol was missing. The variation in the definition of waiting time reduces its usefulness as an indirect measure of resources and as a method of comparing centres. There is also wide variation in the management of waiting lists, particularly in the prioritization schedules used by different centres. The major factor contributing to waiting lists at present is a shortage of radiation oncology staff, particularly radiation therapists. The implementation of standardized protocols for prioritizing patients may be useful in helping to manage scarce resources not withstanding the need to increase the resource base. However, the existence of such protocols should not give legitimacy to undue delays in commencing radiation treatment.     

超声造影剂在肿瘤诊断和治疗中的应用

超声造影剂在临床上的应用,使超声影像对疾病的诊断和鉴别诊断能力明显提高,尤其改善对肿瘤的定性和定位诊断.近年,国内外学者致力于微泡造影剂靶向性显影和靶向性治疗的研究,包括靶向微泡的制备技术、超声生物学技术、微泡相关基因技术等,并取得积极成果.研究显示,新型造影剂和超声的联合应用,可提高对肿瘤诊断的特异性和准确率,并实现有效的肿瘤靶向治疗,做到个性化诊疗,为临床上肿瘤的治疗带来新的希望.     

Clinical practice in management of hydration for lung cancer patients receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy in Japan: a questionnaire survey

A questionnaire survey was performed to investigate the actual hydration methods used with cisplatin-containing regimens at various institutions in Japan to gain an overview of the varieties employed. Replies were received from 368 of 686 institutions board-certified by the Japanese Respiratory Society. In 233 institutions (63%), new lung cancer patients were treated regularly with regimens containing cisplatin at ≥60 mg/m2. In 172 institutions (48%), hydration with <3000 ml of intravenous saline was performed on day 1. In 225 institutions (65%), hydration was performed for up to 3 days at most, but no more than 48 (14%) of the institutions that responded did so on day 1 only. Two to three weeks of hospitalization was needed for the initial course at most institutions (76%). Thirteen institutions (4%) treated patients as outpatients after the second course, whereas none did so from the beginning of treatment. Despite inconsistencies among the methods used by the various institutions, 84% of those surveyed considered their approaches to be appropriate. Some useful objective indices for deciding the volume or duration of hydration are needed.     

The incidence and epidemiology of retinoblastoma in New Zealand: A 30-year survey.

One hundred cases of retinoblastoma were diagnosed in New Zealand-born children between 1948 and 1977 inclusive. Five patients had an affected parent, and of the remaining sporadic cases 25 had bilateral and 70 unilateral tumours. The frequency of retinoblastoma, 1 in 17,500 births, was similar to that reported for most other countries. There was no evidence of an increase in the incidence of all cases of sporadic retinoblastoma during the 30-year period studied, nor was there any significant fluctuation in their incidence with space and time. There was an excess of bilateral sporadic cases in the southern-most districts of New Zealand, but this was of marginal significance. There was no significance evidence for any environmental influence on the occurrence of retinoblastoma.     

Paediatric radiotherapy in Australia and New Zealand: An anachronism in 2003?

This report reviews the activities of the Paediatric Special Interest Group of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists in terms of its involvement with the Australian and New Zealand Children's Cancer Study Group and its research and educational activities. Examples of when and how radiotherapy is currently used in the management of paediatric malignancies are provided. Some thoughts for the future of both paediatric radiotherapy and our subspecialty are also presented.