Portal imaging practice patterns of children's oncology group institutions: Dosimetric assessment and recommendations for minimizing unnecessary exposure.
OBJECTIVE
To determine and analyze the dosimetric consequences of current portal imaging practices for pediatric patients, and make specific recommendations for reducing exposure from portal imaging procedures.


METHODS
A survey was sent to approximately 250 Children's Oncology Group (COG) member institutions asking a series of questions about their portal imaging practices. Three case studies are presented with dosimetric analysis to illustrate the magnitude of unintended dose received by nontarget tissues using the most common techniques from the survey.


RESULTS
The vast majority of centers use double-exposure portal image techniques with a variety of open field margins. Only 17% of portal images were obtained during treatment, and for other imaging methods, few centers subtract monitor units from the treatment delivery. The number of monitor units used was nearly the same regardless of imager type, including electronic portal imaging devices. Eighty-six percent imaged all fields the first week and 17% imaged all fields every week. An additional 1,112 cm3 of nontarget tissue received 1 Gy in one of the example cases. Eight new recommendations are made, which will lower nontarget radiation doses with minimal impact on treatment verification accuracy.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on the survey, changes can be made in portal imaging practices that will lower nontarget doses. It is anticipated that treatment verification accuracy will be minimally affected. Specific recommendations made to decrease the imaging dose and help lower the rate of radiation-induced secondary cancers in children are proposed for inclusion in future COG protocols using radiation therapy.
Olch
Arthur J
AJ
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA. aolch@chla.usc.edu
Geurts
Mark
M
Thomadsen
Bruce
B
Famiglietti
Robin
R
Chang
Eric L
EL
D000293:Adolescent; D002138:Calibration; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D018787:Radiation Oncology / Q000592:standards; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013679:Technology, Radiologic / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D014962:X-Ray Film