PMID- 24674377
OWN - NLM
STAT- PubMed-not-MEDLINE
DCOM- 20140331
LR  - 20180530
IS  - 1879-8519 (Electronic)
IS  - 1879-8500 (Linking)
VI  - 3
IP  - 3
DP  - 2013 Jul-Sep
TI  - How important is dosimetrist experience for intensity modulated radiation 
      therapy? A comparative analysis of a head and neck case.
PG  - e99-e106
LID - S1879-8500(12)00119-1 [pii]
LID - 10.1016/j.prro.2012.06.009 [doi]
AB  - PURPOSE: Treatment planning for IMRT is a complex process that requires 
      additional training and expertise. The aim of this study was to compare and 
      analyze IMRT plans generated by dosimetrists with varying levels of IMRT planning 
      experience. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The computed tomography (CT) data of a patient 
      previously treated with IMRT for left tonsillar carcinoma were used. The 
      patient's preexisting planning target volumes (PTVs) and all organs at risk were 
      provided with the CT data set. Six dosimetrists with variable IMRT planning 
      experience generated IMRT plans according to the department's protocol. Plan 
      analysis included visual inspection and comparison of dose-volume histogram, 
      conformity indices, treatment delivery efficiency, and dose delivery accuracy. 
      RESULTS: Visual review of the dose distribution showed that the 6 plans were 
      comparable. However, only the 2 most experienced dosimetrists were able to meet 
      the strict PTV aims and critical structure constraints. The least experienced 
      dosimetrist had the worst planning outcome. Comparison of delivery efficiency 
      showed that the number of segments, total monitor units, and treatment time 
      increased as the IMRT planning experience decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Dosimetrists 
      with higher levels of IMRT planning experience produced a better quality head and 
      neck IMRT plan. Different planning experience may need to be considered when 
      organizing appropriate departmental resources.
CI  - Crown Copyright (c) 2013. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
FAU - Batumalai, Vikneswary
AU  - Batumalai V
AD  - Cancer Therapy Centre, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, Australia; University of New 
      South Wales, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: 
      vikneswary.batumalai@sswahs.nsw.gov.au.
FAU - Jameson, Michael G
AU  - Jameson MG
AD  - Cancer Therapy Centre, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, Australia; Centre for Medical 
      Radiation Physics, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.
FAU - Forstner, Dion F
AU  - Forstner DF
AD  - Cancer Therapy Centre, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, Australia; Collaboration of 
      Cancer Outcome Research and Evaluation (CCORE), Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, 
      Australia.
FAU - Vial, Philip
AU  - Vial P
AD  - Cancer Therapy Centre, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, Australia; Institute of 
      Medical Physics, School of Medical Physics, University of Sydney, Sydney, 
      Australia.
FAU - Holloway, Lois C
AU  - Holloway LC
AD  - Cancer Therapy Centre, Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, Australia; University of New 
      South Wales, NSW, Australia; Centre for Medical Radiation Physics, University of 
      Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia; Institute of Medical Physics, School of 
      Medical Physics, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
DEP - 20120731
PL  - United States
TA  - Pract Radiat Oncol
JT  - Practical radiation oncology
JID - 101558279
EDAT- 2014/03/29 06:00
MHDA- 2014/03/29 06:01
CRDT- 2014/03/29 06:00
PHST- 2012/03/27 00:00 [received]
PHST- 2012/06/04 00:00 [revised]
PHST- 2012/06/22 00:00 [accepted]
PHST- 2014/03/29 06:00 [entrez]
PHST- 2014/03/29 06:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2014/03/29 06:01 [medline]
AID - S1879-8500(12)00119-1 [pii]
AID - 10.1016/j.prro.2012.06.009 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Pract Radiat Oncol. 2013 Jul-Sep;3(3):e99-e106. doi: 10.1016/j.prro.2012.06.009. 
      Epub 2012 Jul 31.