title: Significance of using DICOM communication standard in quality assurance in radiation oncology - an institutional experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this article was to highlight the importance of data management systems in radiotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a database search to review the errors or potential errors in radiotherapy planning and delivery which could be prevented in case of using the DICOM communication system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We registered the following rates of errors: 1) Errors caused by manual rewriting of treatment plan 30%; 2) Errors caused by wrong assignment of the verification system 15%; 3) Errors during the manual rewriting of treatment data to the verification system 15%; 4) Patient identification 5%; 5) Field verification 15% 6) Wedge orientation 10%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DICOM communication system may significantly improve the quality assurance in radiotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute and Masaryk University, Faculty of Medicine, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tobias
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vrana
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cwiertka
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gremlica
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Slampa
mesh_terms: D018153:Czech Republic; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D061214:Patient Safety / Q000592:standards; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D018787:Radiation Oncology / Q000592:standards*; D011872:Radiology Department, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D011873:Radiology Information Systems / Q000592:standards*; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / Q000592:standards; D016896:Treatment Outcome