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Comparative Study
. 2008;71(1 Suppl):S98-S102.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2007.05.089.

QA issues for computer-controlled treatment delivery: this is not your old R/V system any more!

Benedick A Fraass  1
Affiliations
Comparative Study

QA issues for computer-controlled treatment delivery: this is not your old R/V system any more!

Benedick A Fraass. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2008.

Abstract

State-of-the-art radiotherapy treatment delivery has changed dramatically during the past decade, moving from manual individual field setup and treatment to automated computer-controlled delivery of complex treatments, including intensity-modulated radiotherapy and other similarly complex delivery strategies. However, the quality assurance methods typically used to ensure treatment is performed precisely and correctly have not evolved in a similarly dramatic way. This paper reviews the old manual treatment process and use of record-and-verify systems, and describes differences with modern computer-controlled treatment delivery. The process and technology used for computer-controlled treatment delivery are analyzed in terms of potential (and actual) problems, as well as relevant published guidance on quality assurance. The potential for improved quality assurance for computer-controlled delivery is discussed.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Statement: The author is an investigator in a research agreement between the University of Michigan and Varian Oncology Systems.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Schematic of the computer-controlled treatment delivery process.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Output from the CCRS system QA review software illustrating planned parameters, normally completed treatments, and noting an exception detected by review software (inset).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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