Trends in Radiation Practices for Female Ocular Oncologists in North America: A Collaborative Study of the International Society of Ocular Oncology

Sona N Shah^{1

2}, Kaitlin Kogachi^{1

2}, Zelia M Correa³, Amy C Schefler⁴, Mary E Aronow⁵, Sonia A Callejo⁶, Colleen M Cebulla⁷, Shelley Day-Ghafoori⁸, Jasmine H Francis⁹, Sara Lally¹⁰, Tara A McCannel¹¹, Katherine E Paton¹², Isabella T Phan¹³, Renelle Pointdujour-Lim¹⁴, Aparna Ramasubramanian¹⁵, Pamela Rath¹⁶, Carol L Shields¹⁰, Alison H Skalet^{17

18}, Jill R Wells¹⁹, Richard L Jennelle²⁰, Jesse L Berry^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ USC Roski Eye Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
² Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.
³ University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
⁴ Retina Consultants of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA.
⁵ Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Retina Service, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
⁶ University of Montreal, Montreal, Québec, Canada.
⁷ Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
⁸ Austin Retina Associates, Austin, Texas, USA.
⁹ Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, New York, USA.
¹⁰ Ocular Oncology Service, Wills Eye Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
¹¹ University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.
¹² University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
¹³ Kaiser Permanente, Northern California, San Francisco, California, USA.
¹⁴ Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
¹⁵ University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
¹⁶ Everett and Hurite Ophthalmic Association, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
¹⁷ Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA.
¹⁸ Department of Radiation Oncology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA.
¹⁹ Emory Eye Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
²⁰ Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.

PMID: 30675478
PMCID: PMC6341326
DOI: 10.1159/000489219

Trends in Radiation Practices for Female Ocular Oncologists in North America: A Collaborative Study of the International Society of Ocular Oncology

Sona N Shah et al. Ocul Oncol Pathol. 2019 Jan.

. 2019 Jan;5(1):54-59.

doi: 10.1159/000489219. Epub 2018 Jun 12.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ USC Roski Eye Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
² Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.
³ University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
⁴ Retina Consultants of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA.
⁵ Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Retina Service, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
⁶ University of Montreal, Montreal, Québec, Canada.
⁷ Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
⁸ Austin Retina Associates, Austin, Texas, USA.
⁹ Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, New York, USA.
¹⁰ Ocular Oncology Service, Wills Eye Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
¹¹ University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.
¹² University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
¹³ Kaiser Permanente, Northern California, San Francisco, California, USA.
¹⁴ Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
¹⁵ University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
¹⁶ Everett and Hurite Ophthalmic Association, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
¹⁷ Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA.
¹⁸ Department of Radiation Oncology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA.
¹⁹ Emory Eye Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
²⁰ Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.

PMID: 30675478
PMCID: PMC6341326
DOI: 10.1159/000489219

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the known radiation exposure, attitudes, and consequent risk modifications among female ocular oncologists in North America who routinely administer radioactive plaque brachytherapy treatment and are members of the International Society of Ocular Oncology.

Methods: Nineteen female ocular oncologists completed an anonymous 17-question radiation exposure survey.

Results: Eleven of the participants chose to routinely wear lead protection during surgery; 8 did not. Fifteen of 19 participants reported using an unloaded "nonactive" template to prepare for plaque implantation. During pregnancy, 11 of 13 participants continued to perform plaque brachytherapy. Eight of these 11 undertook measures to decrease radiation exposure self-reported as lead wear and other. The average reported anxiety regarding fertility was 2.1 (SD, 2.2) on a scale from 1 to 10.

Conclusion: This study corroborates prior literature that surgeons' exposure to radiation during plaque brachytherapy is minimal. Nonetheless, there remains some anxiety regarding exposure risk to women, due to potential effects on fertility and fetal health. We found variability in exposure monitoring, required training, and precautions during pregnancy amongst this group of surgeons. Improved education and clearer pregnancy guidelines may equip female ocular oncologists with optimal knowledge regarding risk of radiation exposure.

Keywords: Choroidal neoplasms; Female surgeons; Melanoma; Plaque brachytherapy; Radiation exposure; Women surgeons.

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Cited by

Survey of ophthalmic imaging use to assess risk of progression of choroidal nevus to melanoma.
DeSimone JD, Dockery PW, Kreinces JB, Soares RR, Shields CL. DeSimone JD, et al. Eye (Lond). 2023 Apr;37(5):953-958. doi: 10.1038/s41433-022-02110-6. Epub 2022 May 23. Eye (Lond). 2023. PMID: 35606548 Free PMC article.

References

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Trends in Radiation Practices for Female Ocular Oncologists in North America: A Collaborative Study of the International Society of Ocular Oncology

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Trends in Radiation Practices for Female Ocular Oncologists in North America: A Collaborative Study of the International Society of Ocular Oncology

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