[A Survey Towards Standardization of Dosimetric Verification in Intensity-modulated Radiation Therapy].
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of the implementation of quality assurance (QA) for intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in Japan using a questionnaire survey.


METHODS
The questionnaire consisted of seven sections: (1) clinical uses of IMRT, (2) treatment planning systems, treatment machines, phantoms for verification and CT scanning, (3) absorbed dose verification, (4) dose distribution verification, (5) fluence map verification, (6) acceptance criteria for each verification, and (7) comments.


RESULTS
The questionnaire was completed by 129 institutions (response rate: 76.8%). IMRT was performed for prostate cancer in 125 institutions (96.9%), followed by head and neck cancer in 83 (64.3%), and brain tumors in 69 (53.5%). Although at least three individuals were engaged in IMRT QA in 77.5% of the institutions, the number of full-time persons involved in IMRT QA was one or less in 94 institutions (72.9%). This indicated that most institutions in Japan have a staff shortage. More than 90% of the institutions verified both the absorbed dose and dose distribution. The acceptance criterion for the absorbed dose verification was set to ±3% in at least 80% of the institutions. Gafchromic film was used for the majority of dose distribution verifications. The acceptance criteria for dose distribution verification mainly involved gamma analysis and a comparison of dose profiles; however, the judgment of acceptance did not depend on the results of the gamma analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
This survey increases our understanding of how institutions currently perform IMRT QA analysis. This understanding will help to move institutions toward more standardization of IMRT QA in Japan.
Mitsuhiro
M
Nakamura
Hiraku
H
Iramina
Masanori
M
Takamiya
Tomohiro
T
Ono
Mami
M
Akimoto
Nobutaka
N
Mukumoto
Yoshitomo
Y
Ishihara
Satoru
S
Utsunomiya
Takehiro
T
Shiinoki
Yuki
Y
Miyabe
Sayaka
S
Sato
Hajime
H
Monzen
D005373:Film Dosimetry; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage / Q000592:standards*; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires