Alessandra Bolsi1, Marta Peroni1, Dante Amelio2, Alexandru Dasu3, Markus Stock4, Iuliana Toma-Dasu5, Petra Witt Nyström6, Aswin Hoffmann7. 1. Centre for Proton Therapy, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland. 2. Proton Therapy Centre Azienda Provinciale per I Servizi Sanitari (APSS) Trento, Italy. 3. The Skandion Clinic, Uppsala, Sweden. 4. MedAustron Ion Therapy Center, Wiener Neustadt, Austria. 5. Medical Radiation Physics, Stockholm University and Karolinska Institutet, Sweden. 6. The Skandion Clinic, Uppsala, Sweden; Danish Centre for Particle Therapy, Aarhus, Denmark. 7. Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany; Institute of Radiooncology - OncoRay, Dresden, Germany; OncoRay - National Centre for Radiation Research in Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany. Electronic address: aswin.hoffmann@uniklinikum-dresden.de.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Image guidance is critical in achieving accurate and precise radiation delivery in particle therapy, even more than in photon therapy. However, equipment, quality assurance procedures and clinical workflows for image-guided particle therapy (IGPT) may vary substantially between centres due to a lack of standardization. A survey was conducted to evaluate the current practice of IGPT in European particle therapy centres. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 2016, a questionnaire was distributed among 19 particle therapy centres in 12 European countries. The questionnaire consisted of 30 open and 37 closed questions related to image guidance in the general clinical workflow, for moving targets, current research activities and future perspectives of IGPT. RESULTS: All centres completed the questionnaire. The IGPT methods used by the 10 treating centres varied substantially. The 9 non-treating centres were in the process to introduce IGPT. Most centres have developed their own IGPT strategies, being tightly connected to their specific technical implementation and dose delivery methods. CONCLUSIONS: Insight into the current clinical practice of IGPT in European particle therapy centres was obtained. A variety in IGPT practices and procedures was confirmed, which underlines the need for harmonisation of practice parameters and consensus guidelines.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Image guidance is critical in achieving accurate and precise radiation delivery in particle therapy, even more than in photon therapy. However, equipment, quality assurance procedures and clinical workflows for image-guided particle therapy (IGPT) may vary substantially between centres due to a lack of standardization. A survey was conducted to evaluate the current practice of IGPT in European particle therapy centres. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 2016, a questionnaire was distributed among 19 particle therapy centres in 12 European countries. The questionnaire consisted of 30 open and 37 closed questions related to image guidance in the general clinical workflow, for moving targets, current research activities and future perspectives of IGPT. RESULTS: All centres completed the questionnaire. The IGPT methods used by the 10 treating centres varied substantially. The 9 non-treating centres were in the process to introduce IGPT. Most centres have developed their own IGPT strategies, being tightly connected to their specific technical implementation and dose delivery methods. CONCLUSIONS: Insight into the current clinical practice of IGPT in European particle therapy centres was obtained. A variety in IGPT practices and procedures was confirmed, which underlines the need for harmonisation of practice parameters and consensus guidelines.
Authors: Eleanor A Blakely; Bruce Faddegon; Christopher Tinkle; Charles Bloch; Michael Dominello; Robert J Griffin; Michael C Joiner; Jay Burmeister Journal: J Appl Clin Med Phys Date: 2019-10-01 Impact factor: 2.243
Authors: Liyong Lin; Paige A Taylor; Jiajian Shen; Jatinder Saini; Minglei Kang; Charles B Simone; Jeffrey D Bradley; Zuofeng Li; Ying Xiao Journal: Int J Part Ther Date: 2021-05-25