title: Implementation of an image-guided radiation therapy program: Lessons learnt and future challenges.
abstract: The aim of this paper is to detail the experience obtained in implementing an image-guided radiation therapy program at the Northern Sydney Cancer Centre. This required retrofitting a Varian Clinac 21EX with an on-board imager. The commissioning and quality assurance procedures, organisation of a multidisciplinary image guided radiation therapy group, and the development of clinical protocols for orthogonal kV and cone beam computed tomography implementation are described. Reassessment of the image-guided radiation therapy program has continued as new equipment and software versions were made available in the department.
authors.affiliation: Northern Sydney Cancer Centre, Department of Radiation Oncology, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vial
authors.forename: T N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Eade
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rinks
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Back
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Wiltshire
mesh_terms: D002985:Clinical Protocols; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D009517:New South Wales; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012984:Software