Review Article Is there a role for radiation therapists within veterinary oncology? Yolanda Surjan a, * , Helen Warren-Forward a , Christopher Milross b a Medical Radiation Science (MRS), School of Health Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia b Department of Radiation Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, Sydney, Australia article info Article history: Received 4 September 2010 Received in revised form 21 December 2010 Accepted 6 January 2011 Available online 17 March 2011 Keywords: Squamous cell carcinoma Equine Periocular Veterinary oncology Brachytherapy Radiation therapy abstract Role expansion recognises enlargement of existing scope of practice within radiation therapy (RT). Over the past decade, there has been increasing involvement and movement towards advanced practice in the form of role extension in specialised areas of practice including brachytherapy, image fusion and quality assurance. It is also recognised that radiation therapy expert practitioners exist in the areas of imaging immobilisation, treatment, education and research. The acquisition of additional skills has hastened the need for autonomy within the RT profession and with this comes the responsibility to share our knowledge and specialist abilities with the wider community. Radiation therapy is a highly specialised profession working to treat a commonly encountered ailment like cancer and we should ask ourselves what other community members could benefit from our knowledge and skills. Cancer is not limited to the human population but affects animals as readily and severely. Particular types of cancers have been identified as being comparable with that of humans; one such tumour is squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Squamous cell carcinoma is the most commonly found tumour of the eye and adnexa in horses. Comparatively, SCC in humans is the most common cancer in Australia. Whilst human treatment is well established with surgery and radiation therapy offering comparable control rates, the treatment within Australia’s Veterinary Oncology field is currently at a standstill. It is reported, however, that the use of interstitial brachytherapy has been shown to be highly effective and thoroughly practiced and established within the United States of America (USA). This paper reviews current liter- ature in readiness for the potential for radiation therapy cross-over into the veterinary sphere with regard to the implementation of treatment and radiation safety protocols for the use of interstitial brachytherapy in horses. Ó 2011 The College of Radiographers. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Introduction Whilst cancer is a familiar ailment among our community, radiation therapy and its applications remains a highly specialised and relatively unknown field. Within Australia, veterinary oncolo- gists are faced with animals afflicted by cancer, yet, there appears to be minimal access to radiation therapy (RT) treatments and their benefits, often depending on alternate and less effective treatment therapies. They may opt for the application of second-rate RT treatments that have been passed down to them verbally by other veterinary surgeons. Furthermore, the knowledge and understan- ding of radiation safety standards, a daily consideration for radia- tion therapists, appear to be under-developed or non-existent within the Australian veterinary sphere. In contrast, the role of radiation therapy within veterinary oncology has been shown to be highly effective and thoroughly practiced and established within the United States of America. 1 Equine squamous cell carcinoma is effectively treated with radiation, comparable to that of human SCC. 2,3 It is however, within Australia, limited to less effective treatments as compared to the current radiation therapy treatment options offered in the USA. This is as a result of the inability to have access to traditional radiation therapy treatments within Australia. Alternate treatment regimes for horses include surgery and some applications of adjunct therapies such as photodynamic therapy, cryotherapy, immunotherapy, intratumoural chemotherapy and carbon dioxide laser ablation therapy; these are a less effective means of treatment in comparison to the proven outcomes of brachytherapy and result in multiple complications and potential side-effects. 2 Evidence suggests that the use of interstitial brachytherapy for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma in horses is a significantly effective treatment regime with minimal side-effects if performed correctly. 1 As an emerging profession, it would seem evident that our involvement in the treatment of cancer within the realm of * Corresponding author. Tel.: þ61 (0)249570905. E-mail address: Yolanda.Surjan@newcastle.edu.au (Y. Surjan). Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Radiography journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/radi 1078-8174/$ e see front matter Ó 2011 The College of Radiographers. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.radi.2011.01.004 Radiography 17 (2011) 250e253