Am J Cancer Res 2013;3(2):152-158
Review Article
Increasing frequency of reirradiation studies in radiation oncology: systematic
review of highly cited articles
Carsten Nieder, Nicolaus H Andratschke, Anca L Grosu
Department of Oncology and Palliative Medicine, Nordland Hospital, 8092 Bodø, Norway; Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of
Health Sciences, University of Tromsø, 9038 Tromsø, Norway; Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Rostock,
18059 Rostock, Ger-many; Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
Received January 31, 2013; Accepted February 27, 2013; Epub April 3, 2013; Published April 13, 2013
Abstract: Objectives: Identification of the most influential scientific publications and directions of mainstream reirradiation
research. Methods: A systematic search of the database Scopus (Elsevier B.V., www.scopus.com) was performed, which
focused on the time period 1998-2010. Patterns of citation were analysed (total number of citations accumulated independently
of their origin and proportion of highly cited articles, arbitrarily defined as those with ≥50 citations). Results: Up to 64 articles
were published each year. Numbers increased over time, especially after the year 2007. Among all 76 articles with at least 50
citations, 28 (37%) focused on head and neck cancer, 27 (36%) on brain tumours including metastases, and 5 (7%) on bone
metastases. Most articles evaluated external beam approaches while 10 (13%) focused on brachytherapy. Many of the often
quoted publications reported on stereotactic and/or intensity-modulated radiotherapy. Two (3%) reported on randomised clinical
studies and 10 (13%) on non-randomised prospective clinical studies (single institution or cooperative group). Only two articles
(3%) reported on experimental animal studies. Conclusions: The number of published reirradiation studies has increased in
recent years. Many studies examined highly conformal and precise radiotherapy, in particular of brain and head and neck
tumours. Given that few randomised clinical trials were published, efforts to increase this type of research activity are warranted.
(AJCR0000175)
Keywords: Radiotherapy, radiation oncology, radiation retreatment, reirradiation, citation, research evaluation
Address correspondence to: Dr. Carsten Nieder, Department of Oncology and Palliative Medicine, Nordland Hospital, 8092
Bodø, Norway. Phone: +47 75 57 8449; Fax: +47 75 53 4975; E-mail: carsten.nieder@nlsh.no
Review Article
Increasing frequency of reirradiation studies in radiation oncology: systematic
review of highly cited articles
Carsten Nieder, Nicolaus H Andratschke, Anca L Grosu
Department of Oncology and Palliative Medicine, Nordland Hospital, 8092 Bodø, Norway; Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of
Health Sciences, University of Tromsø, 9038 Tromsø, Norway; Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Rostock,
18059 Rostock, Ger-many; Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
Received January 31, 2013; Accepted February 27, 2013; Epub April 3, 2013; Published April 13, 2013
Abstract: Objectives: Identification of the most influential scientific publications and directions of mainstream reirradiation
research. Methods: A systematic search of the database Scopus (Elsevier B.V., www.scopus.com) was performed, which
focused on the time period 1998-2010. Patterns of citation were analysed (total number of citations accumulated independently
of their origin and proportion of highly cited articles, arbitrarily defined as those with ≥50 citations). Results: Up to 64 articles
were published each year. Numbers increased over time, especially after the year 2007. Among all 76 articles with at least 50
citations, 28 (37%) focused on head and neck cancer, 27 (36%) on brain tumours including metastases, and 5 (7%) on bone
metastases. Most articles evaluated external beam approaches while 10 (13%) focused on brachytherapy. Many of the often
quoted publications reported on stereotactic and/or intensity-modulated radiotherapy. Two (3%) reported on randomised clinical
studies and 10 (13%) on non-randomised prospective clinical studies (single institution or cooperative group). Only two articles
(3%) reported on experimental animal studies. Conclusions: The number of published reirradiation studies has increased in
recent years. Many studies examined highly conformal and precise radiotherapy, in particular of brain and head and neck
tumours. Given that few randomised clinical trials were published, efforts to increase this type of research activity are warranted.
(AJCR0000175)
Keywords: Radiotherapy, radiation oncology, radiation retreatment, reirradiation, citation, research evaluation
Address correspondence to: Dr. Carsten Nieder, Department of Oncology and Palliative Medicine, Nordland Hospital, 8092
Bodø, Norway. Phone: +47 75 57 8449; Fax: +47 75 53 4975; E-mail: carsten.nieder@nlsh.no
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American Journal of Cancer Research
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