Transitioning India to advanced image based adaptive brachytherapy: a national impact analysis of upgrading National Cancer Grid cervix cancer guidelines

Varsha, Hande; Chopra, Supriya; Polo, Alfredo; Mittal, Prachi; Kohle, Satish; Ghadi, Yogesh; Mulani, Jaahid; Gupta, Ankita; Kinhikar, Rajesh; Agarwal, Jai Prakash

doi:10.1016/j.lansea.2023.100218

Cited by 1 publication

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“…13 The implementation of IGBT is a multistep process that necessitates significant upscaling of the departmental workflow. 14 This upscaling includes incorporating concepts that clinicians and physicists may be unfamiliar with and implementing logistical and practical requirements necessary to ensure safe and secure radiotherapy delivery, such as quality assurance programs and image guidance systems. 15 There are several factors limiting implementation, such as a lack of access to CT/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines, CT/MRI-compatible applicators, knowledge of new planning software, operating theaters, BT physicists, and insufficient experience of CT/MRI interpretation for tumor delineation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Brachytherapy Workflow Practices: Analysis of Different Workflow Scenarios in Patients With Cervical Cancer and Impact on IGBT Implementation—An IAEA Study

Ndarukwa,

Flores,

Rosenblatt

et al. 2024

JCO Glob Oncol

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PURPOSE The workflow of brachytherapy (BT) is an essential aspect of treatment to consider in image-guided brachytherapy (IGBT). It has an overarching effect influencing patient throughput and the number of cancer treatments that can be performed as it occupies equipment, space, and personnel. There is limited research addressing this issue. Under the International Atomic Energy Agency's Coordinated Research Activity titled IGBT for cervix cancer: An implementation study, our study analyzes various scenarios in the clinical workflow of BT delivery for cervical cancer. It aims to determine the extent to which these scenarios allow the routine implementation of IGBT. With this information, current barriers and individualized adaptations to efficient workflows can be identified to enhance the global application of IGBT, leading to better cervical cancer treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS A web-based poll of questions regarding practices in BT workflow was presented to 62 participants from low-, lower middle-, upper middle-, and high-income countries (19 countries). RESULTS This study highlighted diversity in BT practices across countries, income levels, and regions. It identified variations in workflow, patient throughput, and resource availability, which can have implications for the efficiency and quality of BT treatments. Scenario A, utilizing multiple locations for the steps of the BT procedure, was the most commonly used. The availability of resources, such as imaging devices and trained personnel, varied among the participating centers and remained challenging for IGBT implementation and sustainability. CONCLUSION The design of the BT facility plays a vital role in improving efficiency, with a dedicated BT suite contributing to an efficient workflow but limiting patient throughput, especially for high-volume centers. Although IGBT is effective, its implementation requires consideration of various logistical challenges and should be individualized.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%