Yuxi Pan1, Ruijie Yang2, Shuming Zhang1, Jiaqi Li1, Jianrong Dai3, Junjie Wang1, Jing Cai4. 1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Peking University Third Hospital, 49th North Garden Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, People's Republic of China. 2. Department of Radiation Oncology, Peking University Third Hospital, 49th North Garden Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, People's Republic of China. ruijyang@yahoo.com. 3. Department of Radiation Oncology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science Cancer Institute, 17 Panjiayuan Nanli, Beijing, People's Republic of China. 4. Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hongkong Polytechnic University, Hongkong, People's Republic of China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: To analyze and present the China's national survey on patient-specific IMRT quality assurance (QA). METHODS: A national survey was conducted in all radiotherapy centers in China to collect comprehensive information on status of IMRT QA practice, including machine, technique, equipment, issues and suggestions. RESULTS: Four hundred and three centers responded to this survey, accounting for 56.92% of all the centers implementing IMRT in China. The total number of medical physicists and the total number of patients treated with IMRT annually in these centers was 1599 and 305,000 respectively. All centers implemented measurement-based verification. Point dose verification and 2D dose verification was implemented in 331 and 399 centers, respectively. Three hundred forty-eight centers had 2D arrays, and 52 centers had detector devices designed to measure VMAT beams. EPID and film were used in 78 and 70 centers, respectively. Seventeen and 20 centers used log file and 3D DVH analysis, respectively. One hundred sixty-eight centers performed measurement-based verification not for each patient based on different selection criteria. The techniques and methods varied significantly in both point dose and dose distribution verification, from evaluation metrics, criteria, tolerance limit, and steps to check failed IMRT QA plans. Major issues identified in this survey were the limited resources of physicists, QA devices, and linacs. CONCLUSIONS: IMRT QA was implemented in all the surveyed centers. The practice of IMRT QA varied significantly between centers. An increase in personnel, QA devices and linacs is highly desired. National standard, guideline, regulation and training programs are urgently needed in China for consistent and effective implementation of IMRT QA.
BACKGROUND: To analyze and present the China's national survey on patient-specific IMRT quality assurance (QA). METHODS: A national survey was conducted in all radiotherapy centers in China to collect comprehensive information on status of IMRT QA practice, including machine, technique, equipment, issues and suggestions. RESULTS: Four hundred and three centers responded to this survey, accounting for 56.92% of all the centers implementing IMRT in China. The total number of medical physicists and the total number of patients treated with IMRT annually in these centers was 1599 and 305,000 respectively. All centers implemented measurement-based verification. Point dose verification and 2D dose verification was implemented in 331 and 399 centers, respectively. Three hundred forty-eight centers had 2D arrays, and 52 centers had detector devices designed to measure VMAT beams. EPID and film were used in 78 and 70 centers, respectively. Seventeen and 20 centers used log file and 3D DVH analysis, respectively. One hundred sixty-eight centers performed measurement-based verification not for each patient based on different selection criteria. The techniques and methods varied significantly in both point dose and dose distribution verification, from evaluation metrics, criteria, tolerance limit, and steps to check failed IMRT QA plans. Major issues identified in this survey were the limited resources of physicists, QA devices, and linacs. CONCLUSIONS: IMRT QA was implemented in all the surveyed centers. The practice of IMRT QA varied significantly between centers. An increase in personnel, QA devices and linacs is highly desired. National standard, guideline, regulation and training programs are urgently needed in China for consistent and effective implementation of IMRT QA.
Entities:
Keywords:
IMRT; National survey; Patient-specific QA
Authors: Hannes A Loebner; Werner Volken; Silvan Mueller; Jenny Bertholet; Paul-Henry Mackeprang; Gian Guyer; Daniel M Aebersold; Marco F M Stampanoni; Peter Manser; Michael K Fix Journal: Med Phys Date: 2022-05-04 Impact factor: 4.506
Authors: Gordon H Chan; Lee C L Chin; Ady Abdellatif; Jean-Pierre Bissonnette; Lesley Buckley; Daria Comsa; Dal Granville; Jenna King; Patrick L Rapley; Aaron Vandermeer Journal: J Appl Clin Med Phys Date: 2021-06-19 Impact factor: 2.102