IJROBP

Patterns of Contouring Mistakes in the Novice Resident: A Qualitative Analysis to Guide Future Educational Efforts

IJROBP 2024 Contouring assessments from novice radiation oncology residents reveal consistent patterns of error across disease sites, including undercontouring lymph nodes and missing key at-risk volumes. Using an interactive online platform during early clinical rotations, the study identifies specific structures frequently overlooked, such as the inguinal nodes in anal cancer and the base of skull in nasopharyngeal cases. These insights can inform targeted educational interventions and support the development of more standardized contouring curricula.