Definition of reaction thresholds and tolerance limits for testing the total treatment system of percutaneous radiotherapy with photons and electrons

URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2018082008585109229422

In its recommendation from 2010, ‘Physical-technical quality assurance in radiotherapy - proposals for the testing of the total treatment system’, the German Commission on Radio-logical Protection recommended the definition of binding tolerance values. To date, no binding tolerance values have been fixed for dosimetric and geometric uncertainty, and this applies to both individual components and the total radiotherapy system. In light of this, tolerance limits and reaction thresholds independent of the respective manufacturer should be provided for the total system in line with the intended therapeutic measure.

This statement provides tolerance thresholds for dosimetric and geometrical irradiation parameters which, based on the current level of knowledge, will assure an optimal radiotherapeutic treatment when complied with. The tolerance limits and known uncertainties within the individual links of the radiotherapeutic chain are used to derive geometric and dosimetric reaction thresholds which, if exceeded, should trigger investigations to clarify the situation. They serve to prevent tolerance limits from being exceeded, and to optimise radiation protection as a whole.

This recommendation is dealing with tolerances for percutaneous radiotherapy with photons and electrons. The basic concept provided in this statement may be used when administering radiotherapy involving protons and heavy ions, but for such therapy approaches it is important to take certain aspects into consideration that are not included in this statement.