Quality assurance of 3D-CRT: indications and difficulties in their applications.
Although more advanced techniques such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy are rapidly spreading, 3D conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) remains the standard of treatment for many diseases. The authors outline essential indications to guarantee the quality of 3D-CRT treatments. Criteria for clinical indications and potential clinical advantages and disadvantages of 3D-CRT technology are presented. After briefly listing human and technological resources requirements, procedures for 3D-CRT and physical aspects peculiar to 3D-CRT are described. Medical physics support activities are also considered, including suggestions concerning quality control protocols. Difficulties in the application of correct quality procedures, particularly related to human and technological resources, procedures for patient positioning, imaging, contouring, treatment planning, in vivo dosimetry, set-up verification, follow-up, dose delivery are then discussed.
Begnozzi
Luisa
L
Servizio di Fisica Sanitaria Ospedale S. Giovanni Calibita, Fatebenefratelli, Roma, Italy.
Benassi
Marcello
M
Bertanelli
Mario
M
Bonini
Antonio
A
Cionini
Luca
L
Conte
Leopoldo
L
Fiorino
Claudio
C
Gabriele
Pietro
P
Gardani
Gianstefano
G
Giani
Alessandra
A
Magri
Secondo
S
Morelli
Maria
M
Morrica
Brunello
B
Olmi
Patrizia
P
Orecchia
Roberto
R
Penduzzu
Giovanni
G
Raffaele
Luigi
L
Rosi
Antonella
A
Tabocchini
M Antonella
MA
Valdagni
Riccardo
R
Viti
Vincenza
V