Quantitative assessment of inter-observer consistency in target volume delineation following breast-conserving surgery and mastectomy
By
An Yi
Lihong He
Zijie Wang
Xin Liu
Bin Li
Zhuoyu He
Jin Liu
Chunling Jiang
July 16, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: Evaluation of Observer Agreement in Target Volume Definition After Breast-Conserving Surgery and Mastectomy
At a Glance
Category Detail
Condition Breast Cancer Key Mechanisms Inter-observer variability in clinical target volume (CTV) delineation for postoperative radiotherapy. Target Population Patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery (BCS) and modified radical mastectomy (MRM). Care Setting Regional municipal hospitals.
Key Highlights
Inter-observer discrepancies in CTV contouring were quantified among 22 radiation oncologists. Large volumes showed acceptable delineation consistency, while regional nodal stations had poor consistency. Mean Dice similarity coefficients (DSC) and Hausdorff distances (HD) were calculated for target volumes. Standardized anatomical training is crucial to improve radiotherapy uniformity. Deep learning algorithms are being developed to assist in CTV and organ-at-risk contouring. Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Utilize consensus guidelines for target volume delineation. Management
Manual contouring by experienced radiation oncologists remains the standard. Monitoring & Follow-up
Evaluate inter-observer variability to enhance contouring accuracy. Risks
Inconsistent CTV delineation may compromise treatment efficacy. Patient & Prescribing Data
Breast cancer patients post-surgery.
Postoperative radiotherapy is critical for local tumor control and reducing recurrence risk.
Clinical Best Practices
Implement standardized training for radiation oncologists in CTV delineation. Utilize AI-assisted contouring tools with expert review. Related Resources & Content
