An audit of 3D treatment planning facilities and practice in the UK.
The availability and use of 3D treatment planning facilities in the UK was investigated by questionnaire. Fifty-eight of the 62 UK radiotherapy centres responded (94%). There was considerable variation in the facilities available and in the manner in which they were used. Although 36 centres (62%) have the facilities to undertake complex, non-coplanar treatment planning, only 12 did so on a regular basis. More surprising was the inconsistent implementation of coplanar CT planning. It is suggested that we need to work towards reaching a consensus on best practice in radiotherapy planning. This will require the creation of systems for guidance and further training of the various staff involved.
McNee
S G
SG
Beatson Oncology Centre, Western Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
Rampling
R
R
Dale
A J
AJ
Gregor
A
A
D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008330:Management Audit; D008485:Medical Audit; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012984:Software; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006113:United Kingdom