A survey of radiotherapy quality control practice in the United Kingdom for the START trial

Background and purpose: This paper compares the quality control checks perf ormed in departments in the United Kingdom with those recommended by the In stitute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM) in Report 81. Method: The data were gathered by the quality assurance team for the START trial, during visits to individual departments. Data are compared with the frequencies suggested in IPEM report 81. Where applicable, data are also an alyzed with respect to machine manufacturer. Results: All departments with linear accelerators check the output at least weekly for both photons and electrons, however 11% of departments do not p erform a constancy check of the output on a daily basis. The majority of de partments check flatness at gantry zero on a monthly basis. However 27% of departments never check at non-zero gantry angles. In 51% of departments no fluoroscopy checks are performed on simulators on a daily basis. Conclusion: The majority of departments are following the frequencies sugge sted in IPEM report 81 although there are a number of discrepancies particu larly for simulators. Accelerator type needs to be considered when designin g quality assurance checks. In many departments more time than is currently allocated is needed on equipment, particularly simulators, to complete all of the checks suggested in Report 81. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Lt d. All rights reserved.