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Development of Quality Audits for Advanced Technology (IMRT) in Radiotherapy Dose Delivery
Closed for proposals
Project Type
Project Code
E24018CRP
1967Approved Date
Status
Start Date
Expected End Date
Completed Date
19 January 2017Description
External audit is a crucial element in QA programmes for clinical dosimetry in radiotherapy. The proposed CRP will extend the scope of activities by national TLD-based networks from dosimetry audit for complex 3D-conformal techniques to audit of advanced technology, including intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) which is becoming increasingly used in modern radiotherapy in Member States.
Objectives
To ensure the quality of the dosimetric chain in Member States through an independent means of verification of advanced technologies in radiotherapy dose delivery used for treatment of cancer patients.
To assist Member States in developing national quality audit programmes for radiotherapy dosimetry.
Specific objectives
To develop and make available a methodology and procedures for national EAGs for dose calculations for small fields and film-based dosimetry for MLC dosimetric and positional performance for IMRT.
To develop and make available a methodology and procedures for national EAGs for dose verification of advanced technology radiotherapy parameters used for cancer treatment.
To develop and make available a methodology and procedures for national EAGs for TLD- and film based dosimetry for single clinical IMRT field dose delivery.
To develop and make available a methodology and procedures for national EAGs for TLD-based and film-based dosimetry using an ‘end-to-end’ approach (imaging, planning, dose delivery) for multiple field IMRT technique.
Impact
The results of the CRP contributed to the increase in radiation dosimetry expertise in the participated countries that leads to potentially reducing the number of misadministrations of dose to radiotherapy patients. It also provided improved confidence in the introduction of more advanced technologies and treatments in Member States involved in the CRP. Hence, better cooperation and standardization of radiation dosimetry practices is expected at the national and potentially international level for those countries participating in the CRP. The project can also benefit any other country willing to develop a national dosimetry network. There is direct experience available, gained by the countries involved in the CRP, on the practical methods and procedures to perform measurements of the advanced parameters included in this project. In addition, the network experience, is available as examples of how to develop the methodology to implement those procedures and to allow these experiences and results to be shared and transferred to others. The methods and the tools required can then be adopted by other national networks in a straightforward manner.
Relevance
The ultimate benefit is to the potentially large numbers of patients undergoing radiotherapy who will receive improved quality treatment with advanced radiotherapy technologies.