title: Intraoperative radiation therapy using mobile electron linear accelerators: report of AAPM Radiation Therapy Committee Task Group No. 72.
abstract: Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) has been customarily performed either in a shielded operating suite located in the operating room (OR) or in a shielded treatment room located within the Department of Radiation Oncology. In both cases, this cancer treatment modality uses stationary linear accelerators. With the development of new technology, mobile linear accelerators have recently become available for IORT. Mobility offers flexibility in treatment location and is leading to a renewed interest in IORT. These mobile accelerator units, which can be transported any day of use to almost any location within a hospital setting, are assembled in a nondedicated environment and used to deliver IORT. Numerous aspects of the design of these new units differ from that of conventional linear accelerators. The scope of this Task Group (TG-72) will focus on items that particularly apply to mobile IORT electron systems. More specifically, the charges to this Task Group are to (i) identify the key differences between stationary and mobile electron linear accelerators used for IORT, (ii) describe and recommend the implementation of an IORT program within the OR environment, (iii) present and discuss radiation protection issues and consequences of working within a nondedicated radiotherapy environment, (iv) describe and recommend the acceptance and machine commissioning of items that are specific to mobile electron linear accelerators, and (v) design and recommend an efficient quality assurance program for mobile systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Physics, Division of Radiation Oncology, Unit 94, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. abeddar@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: A Sam
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Beddar
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Biggs
authors.forename: Sha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Gary A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Ezzell
authors.forename: Bruce A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Faddegon
authors.forename: Frank W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Hensley
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Mills
mesh_terms: D004583:Electrons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007390:International Agencies; D038622:Internationality; D007430:Intraoperative Care / Q000592:standards*; D010315:Particle Accelerators / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000592:standards*; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D012955:Societies, Medical