Jerusha Padayachee1, Jasmin Loh1, Albert Tiong2, Louis Lao1,3,4. 1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand. 2. Department of Radiation Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 3. Auckland Radiation Oncology, Auckland, New Zealand. 4. Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: This survey aimed to assess the use of image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) within New Zealand (NZ) and evaluate the quality of IGRT delivery. METHOD: All nine centres in NZ were invited to participate in an online survey in November 2015. Questions were asked on type of IGRT technologies available, IGRT use by tumour site and frequency of imaging. In addition, questions were asked in reference to the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) White Paper recommendations on safe practice of IGRT. RESULTS: Seven of the nine centres (78%) responded. Kilovoltage cone-beam CT (CBCT), kilovoltage planar imaging and megavoltage electronic portal imaging were the most commonly used IGRT technologies. CBCT was most frequently used in gynaecology (100%), genitourinary (86%) and head and neck (86%) sites. Despite the availability of similar IGRT technologies, there was significant variation in their application between centres. All centres used online IGRT; however, the frequency of imaging varied across the tumour sites and individual centres. Daily online IGRT use ranged from 43% to 86% across the tumour sites. Overall, there was good compliance by the NZ centres to the White Paper recommendations, with at least 71% reached for each element. However, the compliance rates for the individual centres ranged between 50% and 100%. The most commonly identified barrier to IGRT use was lack of guidelines/education (43%). CONCLUSION: Image-guided radiotherapy is widely used in NZ; however, there is a wide variation in its application between centres. Detailed tumour site-specific, imaging modality-specific national guidelines will allow standardization of IGRT practices.
INTRODUCTION: This survey aimed to assess the use of image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) within New Zealand (NZ) and evaluate the quality of IGRT delivery. METHOD: All nine centres in NZ were invited to participate in an online survey in November 2015. Questions were asked on type of IGRT technologies available, IGRT use by tumour site and frequency of imaging. In addition, questions were asked in reference to the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) White Paper recommendations on safe practice of IGRT. RESULTS: Seven of the nine centres (78%) responded. Kilovoltage cone-beam CT (CBCT), kilovoltage planar imaging and megavoltage electronic portal imaging were the most commonly used IGRT technologies. CBCT was most frequently used in gynaecology (100%), genitourinary (86%) and head and neck (86%) sites. Despite the availability of similar IGRT technologies, there was significant variation in their application between centres. All centres used online IGRT; however, the frequency of imaging varied across the tumour sites and individual centres. Daily online IGRT use ranged from 43% to 86% across the tumour sites. Overall, there was good compliance by the NZ centres to the White Paper recommendations, with at least 71% reached for each element. However, the compliance rates for the individual centres ranged between 50% and 100%. The most commonly identified barrier to IGRT use was lack of guidelines/education (43%). CONCLUSION: Image-guided radiotherapy is widely used in NZ; however, there is a wide variation in its application between centres. Detailed tumour site-specific, imaging modality-specific national guidelines will allow standardization of IGRT practices.
Authors: Steve Heymann; Giovanna Dipasquale; Nam P Nguyen; Meymey San; Olena Gorobets; Nicolas Leduc; Dirk Verellen; Guy Storme; Hilde Van Parijs; Mark De Ridder; Vincent Vinh-Hung Journal: Technol Cancer Res Treat Date: 2020 Jan-Dec