A COMPUTER-CONTROLLED CONFORMAL RADIOTHERAPY SYSTEM .4. ELECTRONIC CHART

Purpose: The design and implementation of a system for electronically tracking relevant plan, prescription, and treatment data for computer- controlled conformal radiation therapy is described. Methods and Mater ials: The electronic charting system is implemented on a computer clus ter coupled by high-speed networks to computer-controlled therapy mach ines, A methodical approach to the specification and design of an inte grated solution has been used in developing the system, The electronic chart system is designed to allow identification and access of patien t-specific data including treatment-planning data, treatment prescript ion information, and charting of doses, An in-house developed database system is used to provide an integrated approach to the database requ irements of the design, A hierarchy of databases is used for both cent ralization and distribution of the treatment data for specific treatme nt machines. Results: The basic electronic database system has been im plemented and has been in use since July 1993, The system has been use d to download and manage treatment data on all patients treated on our first fully computer-controlled treatment machine, To date, electroni c dose charting functions have not been fully implemented clinically, requiring the continued use of paper charting for dose tracking. Concl usions: The routine clinical application of complex computer-controlle d conformal treatment procedures requires the management of large quan tities of information for describing and tracking treatments, An integ rated and comprehensive approach to this problem has led to a full ele ctronic chart for conformal radiation therapy treatments.