Standardizing dose prescriptions: An ASTRO white paper.
This white paper recommends the standardization (content and presentation order) of several "key components" of the radiation therapy prescription to facilitate accurate communication between radiation therapy care providers. The rationale, other similar efforts, and detailed considerations are described. In brief, the Task Force recommends that the prescription's "elements" include: treatment site, method of delivery, dose per fraction, total number of fractions, total dose (eg, right breast, tangent photons, 267 cGy * 16 = 4272 cGy). A similar formalism is recommended for brachytherapy (eg, cervix, Ir-192 brachytherapy, 600cGy * 5 = 3000 cGy) and other modalities. The white paper also considers future directions for other items such as the simulation order, treatment planning objectives, prescription point or volume, treatment schedule, localization imaging, laboratory monitoring, concurrent chemotherapy, patient instructions for treatment, etc. The intent of this white paper is to facilitate accurate communication among providers to support safe practice as well as to guide vendors in product development that is consistent with this standard prescription.
Department of Radiation Oncology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. Electronic address: suzanne.evans@yale.edu.
Suzanne B
SB
Evans
Department of Radiation Oncology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California.
Benedick A
BA
Fraass
Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
Paula
P
Berner
School of Allied Health, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois.
Kevin S
KS
Collins
21st Century Oncology of Michigan, Farmington Hills, Michigan.
Teamour
T
Nurushev
Radiation Oncology Associates of Lynchburg, Lynchburg, Virginia.
Michael J
MJ
O'Neill
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
Jing
J
Zeng
Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Lawrence B
LB
Marks
D001918:Brachytherapy; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008495:Medical Oncology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D055656:Prescriptions / Q000592:standards*; D018787:Radiation Oncology; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012015:Reference Standards