Integration of radiation oncology teaching in medical studies by German medical faculties due to the new licensing regulations: an overview and recommendations of the consortium academic radiation oncology of the German Society for Radiation Oncology (DEGRO)

The new Medical Licensing Regulations 2025 (Ärztliche Approbationsordnung, ÄApprO) will soon be passed by the Federal Council (Bundesrat) and will be implemented step by step by the individual faculties in the coming months. The further development of medical studies essentially involves an orientation from fact-based to competence-based learning and focuses on practical, longitudinal and interdisciplinary training. Radiation oncology and radiation therapy are important components of therapeutic oncology and are of great importance for public health, both clinically and epidemiologically, and therefore should be given appropriate attention in medical education. This report is based on a recent survey on the current state of radiation therapy teaching at university hospitals in Germany as well as the contents of the National Competence Based Learning Objectives Catalogue for Medicine 2.0 (Nationaler Kompetenzbasierter Lernzielkatalog Medizin 2.0, NKLM) and the closely related Subject Catalogue (Gegenstandskatalog, GK) of the Institute for Medical and Pharmaceutical Examination Questions (Institut für Medizinische und Pharmazeutische Prüfungsfragen, IMPP). The current recommendations of the German Society for Radiation Oncology (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Radioonkologie, DEGRO) regarding topics, scope and rationale for the establishment of radiation oncology teaching at the respective faculties are also included

Long-term results of radiotherapy for periarthritis of the shoulder: a retrospective evaluation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To evaluate retrospectively the results of radiotherapy for periarthritis of the shoulder</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In 1983–2004, 141 patients were treated, all had attended at least one follow-up examination. 19% had had pain for several weeks, 66% for months and 14% for years. Shoulder motility was impaired in 137/140 patients. Nearly all patients had taken oral analgesics, 81% had undergone physiotherapy, five patients had been operated on, and six had been irradiated. Radiotherapy was applied using regular anterior-posterior opposing portals and Co-60 gamma rays or 4 MV photons. 89% of the patients received a total dose of 6 Gy (dose/fraction of 1 Gy twice weekly, the others had total doses ranging from 4 to 8 Gy. The patients and the referring doctors were given written questionnaires in order to obtain long-term results. The mean duration of follow-up was 6.9 years [0–20 years].</p> <p>Results</p> <p>During the first follow-up examination at the end of radiotherapy 56% of the patients reported pain relief and improvement of motility. After in median 4.5 months the values were 69 and 89%, after 3.9 years 73% and 73%, respectively. There were virtually no side effects. In the questionnaires, 69% of the patients reported pain relief directly after radiotherapy, 31% up to 12 weeks after radiotherapy. 56% of the patients stated that pain relief had lasted for "years", in further 12% at least for "months".</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Low-dose radiotherapy for periarthropathy of the shoulder was highly effective and yielded long-lasting improvement of pain and motility without side effects.</p

Multimodale Behandlung von Patienten mit CUP-Syndrom - Eine retrospektive Studienanalyse

Einleitung: Die Behandlung von Patienten mit CUP (carcinoma of unkown primary)-Syndrom ohne Nachweis eines Primarius stellt bis heute eine Herausforderung dar. Analysen ausgeführter Behandlungen einer CUP-Erkrankung haben eine unverändert hohe Bedeutung.Material und Methode: 81 Patienten mit Kopf-Hals-CUP-Syndrom wurden zwischen 1991 und 2013 in der HNO-Klinik sowie der Strahlenklinik des Universitätsklinikums des Saarlandes behandelt. Ergebnisse: Die häufigste Histologie war ein Plattenepithelkarzinom (80 %). 10 % der Patienten hatten Fernmetastasen bei der ersten Vorstellung. Alle Patienten wurden primär oder adjuvant mit einer Strahlentherapie oder einer gleichzeitigen Radiochemotherapie behandelt. Bei 62 Patienten wurde eine einseitige oder beidseitige Neck dissection durchgeführt. Die 5 Jahres-Überlebensrate lag bei 30 %, lokale Rezidive traten bei 25 % auf, eine Fernmetastasierung wurde bei insgesamt 26 % des Patientenkollektivs dokumentiert. Eine postradiogene Spättoxizität Grad III - IV wurde bei 12 % der Patienten beobachtet.Zusammenfassung: Neck dissection und Strahlentherapie bleibt ein wichtiger Bestandteil der Kopf-Hals-CUP-Syndromtherapie. Bei primärer Radiatio ist die Kombination mit einer Chemotherapie zu erwägen. Prospektive, multizentrische, randomisierte Studien sind notwendig, um die Wertigkeit der einzelnen Therapieformen besser bestimmen zu können.Der Erstautor gibt keinen Interessenkonflikt an