Survey of stereotactic body radiation therapy in Japan by the Japan 3-D Conformal External Beam Radiotherapy Group.
OBJECTIVE
To recognize the current status of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in Japan, using a nationwide survey conducted by the Japan 3-D Conformal External Beam Radiotherapy Group.


METHODS
The questionnaire was sent by mail to 117 institutions. Ninety-four institutions (80%) responded by the end of November 2005. Fifty-three institutions indicated that they have already started SBRT, and 38 institutions had been reimbursed by insurance.


RESULTS
A total of 1111 patients with histologically confirmed lung cancer were treated. Among these patients, 637 had T1N0M0 and 272 had T2N0M0 lung cancer. Metastatic lung cancer was found in 702 and histologically unconfirmed lung tumor in 291 patients. Primary liver cancer was found in 207 and metastatic liver cancer in 76 patients. The most frequent schedule used for primary lung cancer was 48 Gy in 4 fractions at 22 institutions (52%), followed by 50 Gy in 5 fractions at 11 institutions (26%) and 60 Gy in 8 fractions at 4 institutions (10%). The tendency was the same for metastatic lung cancer. The average number of personnel involved in SBRT was 1.8 radiation oncologists, including 1.1 certified radiation oncologists, 2.8 technologists, 0.7 nurses, and 0.6 certified quality assurance personnel and 0.3 physicists. The most frequent amount of time for treatment planning was 61-120 min, for quality assurance was 50-60 min, and for treatment was 30 min. There were 14 (0.6% of all cases) reported Grade 5 complications: 11 cases of radiation pneumonitis, 2 cases of hemoptysis, and 1 case of radiation esophagitis.


CONCLUSIONS
The current status of SBRT in Japan was surveyed.
Nagata
Yasushi
Y
Division of Radiation Oncology, Hiroshima University Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan. nagat@hiroshima-u.ac.jp
Hiraoka
Masahiro
M
Mizowaki
Takashi
T
Narita
Yuichiro
Y
Matsuo
Yukinori
Y
Norihisa
Yoshiki
Y
Onishi
Hiroshi
H
Shirato
Hiroki
H
D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007564:Japan; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D018787:Radiation Oncology; D016634:Radiosurgery / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal; D012119:Respiration; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D000078329:Workforce