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The group was formed initially as a sub-committee of the Australian and
New Zealand Children's Cancer Study Group (ANZCCSG) and then as a Special
Interest Group (SIG) of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of
Radiologists. The principle aims of the Group are
- to maintain a network of radiation oncologists who manage paediatric patients in Australia and New Zealand to ensure the best quality of care by radiation therapy for children;
- to provide input for protocol design and quality assurance of RT delivered
to children in various ANZCCSG studies;
- to establish a centralised database for collection of parameters concerned
with the delivery of RT to children in Australia and New Zealand and
- to provide education in paediatric radiation therapy.
The Group meets periodically throughout the year via teleconference with a face to face meeting at least twice a year.
The Group also hosts a Teaching Course every two years. This has multidisciplinary input from the teaching faculty and is aimed specifically at the training needs of radiation oncology registrars.
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Activities of the Group include:
- Curriculum development for the FRO.
- Information dissemination
Booklets aimed at assisting children with the understanding of radiation treatment have been prepared by Maree Sexton and been distributed in centres throughout Australia and New Zealand.
- Radiation Oncology Database
The radiation oncologists have collaborated to compile a data base which commenced in January, 1997. The information is centrally collated at Westmead. As at July 2006, 1500 patients were registered. The database is ongoing and Registration forms can be downloaded here.
- Presentations and Publications
- At the RANZCR Annual General Meeting in October 1999 Michael Back presented results of Medulloblastoma Verity Ahern presented the Paediatric Radiation Oncology data base.
- Michael Back is preparing a publication on a collaborative Medulloblastoma study for the International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology and Physics and will also present this data a the ASTRO Meeting in 2000
- Studies
The following articles by members of the Group have been published:
- Importance of radiation time and dose factors on outcome for childhood medulloblastoma. M Back et al. Austral Radiol (2005) 49, 298-303.
- A modified technique for craniospinal irradiation in children designed to reduce acute and late radiation toxicity. C Phillips et al. Austral Radiol (2004) 48, 188-194.
- Paediatric radiotherapy in Australia and New Zealand: An anachronism in 2003? V Ahern and M Berry. Austral Raiol (2003) 47, 343.
The following articles have been submitted for publication:
- Paediatric medulloblastoma: patterns of care and radiotherapy quality assurance in Australia. V Ahern et al. Austral Radiol
- Paediatric total body irradiation: Australian patterns of care study. S Babington et al. Austral Radiol.
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| Co-Convenors: |
Dr Greg Wheeler, Dr Mary Dwyer |
| Members: |
Dr M.K. Alcock
Prof Chris Atkinson
Dr Martin Borg
Robyn Cheuk
Mary Dwyer
David Hamilton
Robert Smee
Mandy Taylor
Greg Wheeler |
A/Prof Roger Allison
Dr Verity Ahern
Scott Babington
Susan Brooks
John Childs
Sanjiv Gupta
Michael Poulsen
Johan Tang (Singapore)
Margaret Wallington |
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Membership is open to all radiation oncologists within Australia and
New Zealand who supervise the radiation treatment of children.
For further information relating to the Paediatric Special Interest Group please contact the Faculty of Radiation Oncology, email faculty@ranzcr.edu.au.
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