INTRAOPERATIVE ELECTRON-BEAM RADIATION-THERAPY - TECHNIQUE, DOSIMETRY, AND DOSE SPECIFICATION - REPORT OF TASK-FORCE 48 OF THE RADIATION-THERAPY COMMITTEE, AMERICAN-ASSOCIATION-OF-PHYSICISTS-IN-MEDICINE

Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) is a treatment modality whereb y a large single dose of radiation is delivered to a surgically open, exposed cancer site. Typically, a beam of megavoltage electrons is dir ected at an exposed tumor or tumor bed through a specially designed ap plicator system. In the last few years, IORT facilities have prolifera ted around the world. The IORT technique and the applicator systems us ed at these facilities vary greatly in sophistication and design philo sophy. The IORT beam characteristics vary for different designs of app licator systems. It is necessary to document the existing techniques o f IORT, to detail the dosimetry data required for accurate delivery of the prescribed dose, and to have a uniform method of dose specificati on for cooperative clinical trials. The specific charge to the task gr oup includes the following: (a) identify the multidisciplinary IORT te am, (b) outline special considerations that must be addressed by an IO RT program, (c) review currently available IORT techniques, (d) descri be dosimetric measurements necessary for accurate delivery of prescrib ed dose, (e) describe dosimetric measurements necessary in documenting doses to the surrounding normal tissues, (f) recommend quality assura nce procedures for IORT, (g) review methods of treatment documentation and verification, and (h) recommend methods of dose specification and recording for cooperative clinical trials.