IJROBP

IJROBP 2026Accurate contouring is essential for high-quality radiation therapy, yet variability remains common during training and beyond in clinical practice. This study qualitatively characterized contouring mistakes across different disease sites before and after site-specific clinical rotations. We hypothesized that residents would exhibit more errors pre-rotation, with improvement following rotation completion.

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.