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Intercomparison and remote dosimetry audits: Safeguarding radiotherapy through global standards
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G. Ramachandran   , M.S. Ahmad Fadzil , N.A. Azmi , S.H. Zuber , U.N. Min , M.T. Dolah , S.D. Oluwafemi , N.M. Noor |
| Diagnostic Imaging and Radiotherapy Program, Center for Diagnostic, Therapeutic and Investigative Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia , safwanfadzil@ukm.edu.my |
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Abstract: (7 Views) |
Background: As the complexity of radiotherapy treatments increases, ensuring the quality and safety of these interventions becomes paramount. A critical component of this quality assurance (QA) is the systematic evaluation of radiotherapy processes through audits and intercomparison protocols. This has prompted the radiation authorities to establish numerous safety protocols and audit systems, thereby forming a detailed regulatory QA landscape. The present review identifies and describes the major independent dosimetry audit organisations available worldwide. Materials and Methods: A search strategy was developed and administered to select articles on dosimetry audit systems from the PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 checklist. Literature searches were done using keywords like radiotherapy incident, intercomparison, remote dosimetry audit phantom, audit organisations, and radiotherapy, with an emphasis on data relevant to the research. Results: A total of 26 articles were identified that focused on the intercomparison and dose audit in radiotherapy. The reviewed articles were detailed into several groups of information, including dose audit organisation, dosimetry audit methodologies, phantoms, and approaches to dose audit. Conclusion: The existing variability in methodologies, criteria, and benchmarks across different clinical settings poses significant challenges to the consistency and reliability of QA processes. A standardised approach enables more accurate comparisons, enhances the reproducibility of audit outcomes, and promotes the sharing of best practices across institutions. This, in turn, will contribute to the overarching goal of delivering high-quality, safe, and effective radiotherapy treatments to patients. |
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| Keywords: Radiotherapy, dosimetry, phantoms, quality assurance, radiotherapy dosage. |
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Full-Text [PDF 996 kb]
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Type of Study: Review article |
Subject:
Radiation Biology
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