title: An audit of 3D treatment planning facilities and practice in the UK.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Beatson Oncology Centre, Western Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: McNee
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rampling
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Dale
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gregor
mesh_terms: 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