[Use of real-time system of portal imaging in the daily monitoring of patients treated by radiotherapy for thoracic cancer].
OBJECTIVE
Retrospective analysis of the results obtained with daily interactive use of portal imaging for monitoring thoracic cancer radiotherapy.


METHODS
A Siemens electronic portal imaging system called Beamviewplus was used daily in 15 lung cancer patients for each X-ray field. Out of the 714 expected portal images, 585 (82%), were obtained and printed.


RESULTS
We counted 94 errors in the 585 successful controls (16%). Four main classes of errors were identified: irradiation field placement (47 cases, 50%), shielding placement (30 cases, 32%) patient's position on the till examining table (14 cases, 15%), and selection of the energy (3 cases, 3%). Forty percent of these errors were potentially serious in terms of treatment volume and vital organ protection.


CONCLUSIONS
Only portal imaging control could easily detect errors because they occurred randomly. We thus consider the use of this daily system helpful for patient management.
Noël
G
G
Service de radiothérapie, hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
Sarrazin
T
T
Mirabel
X
X
Prévost
B
B
D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011786:Quality Control; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*