Centre News and Events
National Dosimetry Study Results
17th Jun 2008
Perth Radiation Oncology participated in the Elvis the Pelvis phantom national dosimetry study conducted from 2004-2008. This study determined the accuracy of planning and delivering therapeutic doses for cancer at two sites within the pelvis (rectum and prostate). To achieve accurate and precise dose delivery to patients requires the treatment machines to be maintained in calibration, the planning system to be commissioned and used competently and the patient setup in the treatment room to be completed by conscientious staff.
The calibrated dose at Perth Radiation Oncology is within 0.5% of the study standard showing that the treatment machines are in good calibration with a 2% variation being acceptable. The results of this study for Perth Radiation Oncology shows that the average dose delivered to the rectum is within 0.8% of the planned dose and the average dose delivered to the prostate is within 0.2% of the planned dose. Dose delivery variations of
-5% to +7% are acceptable.
These results are consistent with an intercentre dose study conducted at PRO before the year 2000. Based on these and other studies and audits conducted internally to PRO, patients can be confident of accurate and precise dose delivery to treat their disease. Historically there has been no significant variation in the calibrated dose at Perth Radiation Oncology and we can expect, with continued vigilance, to provide similar high quality dosimetry into the future.
These results are not possible without the hard work of our Biomedical Engineers who maintain the treatment machines, the Medical Physicists who commission and calibrate the equipment and the Radiation Therapists who plan and deliver the treatments. Our medical and nursing staff are able to effectively manage a patient’s disease with confidence in our ability to accurately and precisely deliver the prescribed therapy.
Sean Geoghegan, PhD MACPSEM MAIP
Senior Medical Physicist
17 June 2008
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