title: American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) Emerging Technology Committee report on electronic brachytherapy.
abstract: The development of novel technologies for the safe and effective delivery of radiation is critical to advancing the field of radiation oncology. The Emerging Technology Committee of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology appointed a Task Group within its Evaluation Subcommittee to evaluate new electronic brachytherapy methods that are being developed for, or are already in, clinical use. The Task Group evaluated two devices, the Axxent Electronic Brachytherapy System by Xoft, Inc. (Fremont, CA), and the Intrabeam Photon Radiosurgery Device by Carl Zeiss Surgical (Oberkochen, Germany). These devices are designed to deliver electronically generated radiation, and because of their relatively low energy output, they do not fall under existing regulatory scrutiny of radioactive sources that are used for conventional radioisotope brachytherapy. This report provides a descriptive overview of the technologies, current and future projected applications, comparison of competing technologies, potential impact, and potential safety issues. The full Emerging Technology Committee report is available on the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology Web site.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, 1600 Divisadero St., H1031, San Francisco, CA 94143-1708, USA. cpark@radonc.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Catherine C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sue S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Yom
authors.forename: Matthew B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Podgorsak
authors.forename: Eleanor
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bevan
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pouliot
authors.forename: Andre A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Konski
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Wallner
mesh_terms: D026683:Advisory Committees; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D002138:Calibration / Q000592:standards; D004867:Equipment Design; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D018787:Radiation Oncology / Q000592:standards; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage / Q000592:standards; D012062:Relative Biological Effectiveness; D012955:Societies, Medical; D013679:Technology, Radiologic / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D014481:United States