Rate of Whole-Breast Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy Before Versus After Virtual Tumor Board Implementation

Abstract

PURPOSE: The virtual tumor board (VTB) is a multidisciplinary group of specialist physicians who remotely educate the treating physician on the development of an evidence-based cancer treatment plan that will enhance patient outcomes according to the available literature. The use of hypofractionated (HF) radiation therapy (RT) is a preferred approach according to National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines and is encouraged by the VTB, when appropriate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An observational, cohort study using prior authorization and claims data were conducted to show how the relative use of HF and conventional fractionated (CF) RT changed after the implementation of the VTB. Orders and claims for qualifying patients from 1 year before launch (August 2016) to 1 year after launch (August 2018) of the VTB were extracted. Claims were examined to observe which patients received CF (28-35 fractions) versus HF (15-21 fractions) RT. χ2 tests were used to assess the association between time period and the ordering and use of HF RT. Logistic regressions were used to test the association, after adjusting for the patient’s age, urbanicity, local average income, and the RT modality used. RESULTS: After implementation, we observed a significantly higher percentage of orders for HF RT (60.3% [n = 1,254 of 2,079] v 53.2% [n = 1,010 of 1,899]; P < .001) and claims for HF RT (71.5% [n = 1,143 of 1,598] v 59.0% [n = 941 of 1,595]; P < .001). Relative to before implementation, the adjusted odds of an order for HF RT was 1.35 (CI, 1.19 to 1.54), and the adjusted odds of a claim for HF RT was 1.76 (CI, 1.52 to 2.04). CONCLUSION: After the VTB was implemented, there was a significant increase in HF RT orders and claims.

Use of Radiation Therapy for the Treatment of Breast Cancer in 2019 Versus 2020

“…In the following year, after the implementation of a virtual tumor board, 60.3% of orders and 71.5% of claims were for HF RT. 22 These rates are lower than the ones that were observed by our study, which found 75.3% of orders in 2019 and 79.0% of orders in 2020 to be for HF RT.…”