Factors Affecting Implementation of Radiological Protection Aspects of Imaging in Radiotherapy
Dramatic improvements in radiotherapy equipment have allowed radiation fields to be conformed to tumours for more accurate treatment. Successful delivery often requires imaging at every treatment fraction, a method known as image guided radiation therapy (IGRT). But increased X-ray imaging exposes p...
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/3/1533 |
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| author | Colin John Martin Sebastien Gros Tomas Kron Tim J. Wood Jenia Vassileva William Small Ung Ngie Min |
| author_facet | Colin John Martin Sebastien Gros Tomas Kron Tim J. Wood Jenia Vassileva William Small Ung Ngie Min |
| author_sort | Colin John Martin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Dramatic improvements in radiotherapy equipment have allowed radiation fields to be conformed to tumours for more accurate treatment. Successful delivery often requires imaging at every treatment fraction, a method known as image guided radiation therapy (IGRT). But increased X-ray imaging exposes patients to doses that carry risks of inducing second cancers in normal tissues. Therefore, reductions in high-dose treatment margins achieved with IGRT must be balanced against detriments from greater imaging doses. ICRP Task Group 116 has been set up to prepare guidance on radiological protection aspects of IGRT. Factors affecting the optimization of radiological protection are the modalities used, the frequency of imaging, the image acquisition parameters influencing image quality and radiation dose, and the volume of normal tissue included in the images. The Task Group has undertaken two projects: (1) a snapshot survey of radiotherapy imaging practices across six continents, which has shown that use of kV cone beam CT (CBCT) increases with Human Development Index for the country; and (2) a project looking at ways for measuring CBCT doses that could be applied more widely. The results highlight the need for raising awareness of imaging doses, and development of the dose quantities displayed on imaging equipment used in radiotherapy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:52:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-091197c7b81448e2ae3a29bb39cc1f1e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:52:40Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-091197c7b81448e2ae3a29bb39cc1f1e2023-11-16T16:06:51ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172023-01-01133153310.3390/app13031533Factors Affecting Implementation of Radiological Protection Aspects of Imaging in RadiotherapyColin John Martin0Sebastien Gros1Tomas Kron2Tim J. Wood3Jenia Vassileva4William Small5Ung Ngie Min6Department of Clinical Physics and Bio-Engineering, Gartnavel Royal Hospital, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 0XH, UKDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL 60153, USADepartment of Physical Sciences, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, AustraliaFaculty of Science and Engineering, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull HU6 7RX, UKRadiation Protection of Patients Unit, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna International Centre, 1400 Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL 60153, USAClinical Oncology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, MalaysiaDramatic improvements in radiotherapy equipment have allowed radiation fields to be conformed to tumours for more accurate treatment. Successful delivery often requires imaging at every treatment fraction, a method known as image guided radiation therapy (IGRT). But increased X-ray imaging exposes patients to doses that carry risks of inducing second cancers in normal tissues. Therefore, reductions in high-dose treatment margins achieved with IGRT must be balanced against detriments from greater imaging doses. ICRP Task Group 116 has been set up to prepare guidance on radiological protection aspects of IGRT. Factors affecting the optimization of radiological protection are the modalities used, the frequency of imaging, the image acquisition parameters influencing image quality and radiation dose, and the volume of normal tissue included in the images. The Task Group has undertaken two projects: (1) a snapshot survey of radiotherapy imaging practices across six continents, which has shown that use of kV cone beam CT (CBCT) increases with Human Development Index for the country; and (2) a project looking at ways for measuring CBCT doses that could be applied more widely. The results highlight the need for raising awareness of imaging doses, and development of the dose quantities displayed on imaging equipment used in radiotherapy.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/3/1533image guided radiation therapycone beam CTradiotherapy planningimaging in radiotherapyimaging dose |
| spellingShingle | Colin John Martin Sebastien Gros Tomas Kron Tim J. Wood Jenia Vassileva William Small Ung Ngie Min Factors Affecting Implementation of Radiological Protection Aspects of Imaging in Radiotherapy Applied Sciences image guided radiation therapy cone beam CT radiotherapy planning imaging in radiotherapy imaging dose |
| title | Factors Affecting Implementation of Radiological Protection Aspects of Imaging in Radiotherapy |
| title_full | Factors Affecting Implementation of Radiological Protection Aspects of Imaging in Radiotherapy |
| title_fullStr | Factors Affecting Implementation of Radiological Protection Aspects of Imaging in Radiotherapy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors Affecting Implementation of Radiological Protection Aspects of Imaging in Radiotherapy |
| title_short | Factors Affecting Implementation of Radiological Protection Aspects of Imaging in Radiotherapy |
| title_sort | factors affecting implementation of radiological protection aspects of imaging in radiotherapy |
| topic | image guided radiation therapy cone beam CT radiotherapy planning imaging in radiotherapy imaging dose |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/3/1533 |
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