ESTRO 2025 - Abstract Book

S2203

Interdisciplinary – Education in radiation oncology

ESTRO 2025

significant improvement was found. For the vagina, the average DSC was 7% higher in Test_4 than in Test_1 (0.58 vs. 0.53). All organs in the head and neck region were contoured by a highly experienced RTT in Test_1, Test_2, and Test_3 with good agreement with the expert contours (DSC>0.85), but for patient_4, the values of parotids were small in Test_1 and Test_4 but improved in Test_4. Conclusion: The Guide training platform was shown to be effective in teaching contouring of small-volume organs and training observers with little experience.

Keywords: training platform, contouring, anatomical organs

References: 1. Rasmussen et al. Teaching and AI-Assistance Improve Organs-At-Risk Contouring for Head-Neck Cancer in a Global Study, Radiother Oncol 194:S2726-S2729. 2024

4202

Digital Poster An analysis of alarming trends in radiation oncology residency in Italy

Gian Marco Petrianni 1 , Michele Fiore 2,1 , Gabriele D'Ercole 1 , Pasquale Trecca 1 , Edy Ippolito 2,1 , Sara Ramella 2,1 1 Radiation Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy. 2 Radiation Oncology, Università Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy Purpose/Objective: In recent years, the number of available positions in Italian residency programs has exceeded the number of applicants. This imbalance has disproportionately affected less desirable specialties, particularly those with limited private practice opportunities, such as radiation oncology. This study analyses the performance and trends of radiation oncology residency programs in Italy. Material/Methods: Since 2014, residency admissions in Italy have been governed by a centralized process, with the Ministry of University and Research publishing an annual announcement specifying the number of positions available for each specialty and allocating them to individual residency schools across the country. Using data from the Ministry, we examined the number of residents admitted to radiation oncology programs over the past eight years (2016–2024). Results: Radiation oncology residency programs have experienced a steady decline in the number of positions filled. Over the study period, the number of unfilled or abandoned residency positions increased dramatically: 11 of 107 (10.3%) in 2016, 20 of 105 (19%) in 2017, 31 of 108 (28.7%) in 2018, 42 of 137 (30.6%) in 2019, 50 of 179 (27.9%) in 2020, 119 of 185 (64.3%) in 2021, 124 of 152 (81.6%) in 2022, 163 of 181 (90%) in 2023, and 151 of 171 (88.3%) in 2024. Over eight years, 711 out of 1325 available positions (53.7%) in radiation oncology residency programs remained unfilled. Conclusion: The continuing decline in the number of radiation oncology residents highlights a critical imbalance in Italy's medical residency system, which could lead to a shortage of specialists in key areas while oversupplying others. Immediate policy intervention is essential to address these imbalances and maintain the sustainability of the Italian healthcare system.

Keywords: Residency school, Italy