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The impact of advanced technologies on treatment deviations in radiation treatment delivery.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Marks, LB; Light, KL; Hubbs, JL; Georgas, DL; Jones, EL; Wright, MC; Willett, CG; Yin, FF
Published in: Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys
December 1, 2007

PURPOSE: To assess the impact of new technologies on deviation rates in radiation therapy (RT). METHODS AND MATERIALS: Treatment delivery deviations in RT were prospectively monitored during a time of technology upgrade. In January 2003, our department had three accelerators, none with "modern" technologies (e.g., without multileaf collimators [MLC]). In 2003 to 2004, we upgraded to five new accelerators, four with MLC, and associated advanced capabilities. The deviation rates among patients treated on "high-technology" versus "low-technology" machines (defined as those with vs. without MLC) were compared over time using the two-tailed Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: In 2003, there was no significant difference between the deviation rate in the "high-technology" versus "low-technology" groups (0.16% vs. 0.11%, p = 0.45). In 2005 to 2006, the deviation rate for the "high-technology" groups was lower than the "low-technology" (0.083% vs. 0.21%, p = 0.009). This difference was caused by a decline in deviations on the "high-technology" machines over time (p = 0.053), as well as an unexpected trend toward an increase in deviations over time on the "low-technology" machines (p = 0.15). CONCLUSIONS: Advances in RT delivery systems appear to reduce the rate of treatment deviations. Deviation rates on "high-technology" machines with MLC decline over time, suggesting a learning curve after the introduction of new technologies. Associated with the adoption of "high-technology" was an unexpected increase in the deviation rate with "low-technology" approaches, which may reflect an over-reliance on tools inherent to "high-technology" machines. With the introduction of new technologies, continued diligence is needed to ensure that staff remain proficient with "low-technology" approaches.

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Published In

Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys

DOI

ISSN

0360-3016

Publication Date

December 1, 2007

Volume

69

Issue

5

Start / End Page

1579 / 1586

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Technology, Radiologic
  • Radiotherapy
  • Quality Assurance, Health Care
  • Prospective Studies
  • Particle Accelerators
  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • Humans
  • 5105 Medical and biological physics
  • 3407 Theoretical and computational chemistry
  • 3211 Oncology and carcinogenesis
 

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Marks, L. B., Light, K. L., Hubbs, J. L., Georgas, D. L., Jones, E. L., Wright, M. C., … Yin, F. F. (2007). The impact of advanced technologies on treatment deviations in radiation treatment delivery. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys, 69(5), 1579–1586. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2007.08.017
Marks, Lawrence B., Kim L. Light, Jessica L. Hubbs, Debra L. Georgas, Ellen L. Jones, Melanie C. Wright, Christopher G. Willett, and Fang Fang Yin. “The impact of advanced technologies on treatment deviations in radiation treatment delivery.Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 69, no. 5 (December 1, 2007): 1579–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2007.08.017.
Marks LB, Light KL, Hubbs JL, Georgas DL, Jones EL, Wright MC, et al. The impact of advanced technologies on treatment deviations in radiation treatment delivery. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2007 Dec 1;69(5):1579–86.
Marks, Lawrence B., et al. “The impact of advanced technologies on treatment deviations in radiation treatment delivery.Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys, vol. 69, no. 5, Dec. 2007, pp. 1579–86. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2007.08.017.
Marks LB, Light KL, Hubbs JL, Georgas DL, Jones EL, Wright MC, Willett CG, Yin FF. The impact of advanced technologies on treatment deviations in radiation treatment delivery. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2007 Dec 1;69(5):1579–1586.
Journal cover image

Published In

Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys

DOI

ISSN

0360-3016

Publication Date

December 1, 2007

Volume

69

Issue

5

Start / End Page

1579 / 1586

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Technology, Radiologic
  • Radiotherapy
  • Quality Assurance, Health Care
  • Prospective Studies
  • Particle Accelerators
  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • Humans
  • 5105 Medical and biological physics
  • 3407 Theoretical and computational chemistry
  • 3211 Oncology and carcinogenesis