Technologic advancements and error rates in radiation therapy (RT) delivery.

Abstract

6141 Background: Technologic advances in RT delivery have the potential to reduce errors via increased automation and built-in quality assurance (QA) safeguards. Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is an increasingly utilized technology that delivers highly-conformal radiation by using multiple beams and beam angles. Although IMRT is more technically complex than traditional 2-dimensional (2D) and 3-dimensional (3D) RT techniques, it requires more QA safeguards and is highly automated, which may reduce the risk of human error. We hypothesized that IMRT is associated with a lower error rate in RT delivery than 2D and 3D RT delivery techniques. Methods: All errors in external beam RT delivery were prospectively recorded via a non-punitive error-reporting system at Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Errors are defined as any unplanned deviation from the intended RT treatment and are reviewed during a monthly departmental quality improvement meeting. We performed a ret...