Radiology reporting in oncology-oncologists' perspective

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Structured reporting and standardized criteria enhance radiological and clinical practice.
• Oncologists' perspectives on radiologist reports are vital for improving interdisciplinary communication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine oncologists' opinions and expectations regarding radiologist reports.
• To identify general needs in daily oncologic practice.
• To explore ways to improve interdisciplinary communication between oncologists and radiologists.

Main Methods:

• A 19-question survey was distributed to 230 oncologists across France, Romania, and Switzerland.
• Data were collected via an online survey program (Google Forms®) and analyzed using filtering and cross-tabulation.
• The survey focused on preferences for structured reports, tumor assessment criteria, and satisfaction with radiologist services.

Main Results:

• 88% of oncologists preferred structured reports; 77% used RECIST 1.1 or iRECIST for tumor assessment.
• 65% reported high satisfaction with radiologists' services, but 19% expressed low satisfaction.
• 80% acknowledged the superiority of reports from radiologists specializing in oncologic imaging.

Conclusions:

• Oncologists favor structured reports and RECIST criteria, emphasizing the need for radiologists to adopt these standards for better communication.
• Specialized oncologic imaging expertise is highly valued, indicating a need for broader training and development in this subspecialty.
• Efforts to enhance cancer imaging expertise are essential, despite challenges in subspecialty availability and training infrastructure.