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Stereotactic ablative body radiation therapy (SABR) in NSW

Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine volume 43, pages 641–650 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

A survey was conducted to establish the current utilisation of stereotactic ablative radiation therapy (SABR) services in NSW. The objective of the survey was to generate baseline data to inform requirements for a networked approach to the implementation of new radiation therapy techniques and technologies. All radiation therapy services in NSW were contacted by email with a request to complete a SABR service survey. Questions were designed to identify equipment used, treatment techniques in place, clinical sites treated with a SABR technique and plans to expand the current services offered. Each professional group was asked to identify areas of service delivery they would most like to improve. Sixteen responses were received representing 24 of 27 (89%) of NSW radiation therapy centres. The results indicate that most centres now treat with SABR, however the number of centres and the treatment sites are still increasing. VMAT treatments and 3D imaging are now commonplace. Liver was the most commonly reported treatment site where confidence in service delivery needed improvement. Data from the survey will be useful in formulating future collaborative and educational activities aimed at improving safety and efficacy in SABR service delivery to all patients in NSW and potentially the rest of the country.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Maddison Shaw and Jessica Lye of the ACDS for their support and assistance.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, Camperdown, NSW, Australia

    Elizabeth R. Claridge Mackonis

  2. School of Physics, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

    Elizabeth R. Claridge Mackonis, Nicholas Hardcastle & Annette Haworth

  3. Physical Sciences, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia

    Nicholas Hardcastle

Authors
  1. Elizabeth R. Claridge Mackonis
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  2. Nicholas Hardcastle
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Correspondence to Elizabeth R. Claridge Mackonis.

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Appendix—Survey

Appendix—Survey

NSW SABR/SBRT Evaluation and Improvement Initiative – Initial Questionnaire
Background  
This project looks to improve the efficient and safe implementation of new technologies and techniques in NSW. We will initially look at the use of SBRT/SABR. This particular technique was chosen as it is technologically challenging and of interest to many NSW radiation oncology centres. In addition, experience with this technique is varied throughout NSW, with many centres still in the implementation phase
The SBRT/SABR research project will be in several parts. We are collaborating with the ACDS for a dosimetric assessment of the technique. During a separate site visit, we also plan to investigate the procedural, training, simulation and planning aspects of this treatment technique
SECTION 1  
Please complete the information below If you have previously completed the TROG SABR questionnaire, this can be returned in place of Sect. 1
Date  
Email Address  
First Name  
Last Name  
Facility Name  
Site (if applicable)  
Contact phone number  
Does your facility currently treat using SBRT/SABR?  
Which, if any, sites do you currently treat with SBRT/SABR?  
Which techniques are used, or do you plan to use, for SBRT/SABR treatments?  
(delete responses which do not apply)  
3D conformal Coplanar
  Non-Coplanar
IMRT: Static Gantry Step and shoot
  Dynamic leaves
VMAT: Dynamic Gantry Arc Single
  Multiple
  Hybrid
  Rapid
  Smart
  Tomotherapy
  Cyberknife
  Other (please specify)
Helical Tomotherapy Yes
  No
  Comment
Cyberknife Yes
  No
  Comment
How many patients were treated at your facility with SABR in the last year? Lung
  Liver
  Spine
  Prostate
  Node
  Cranial
  Adrenal
  Bone
  Other (please specify tumour site and number of patients)
In what year did your facility start treatment these sites with SABR? Lung
  Liver
  Spine
  Prostate
  Node
  Cranial
  Adrenal
  Bone
  Other (please specify tumour site and year)
Treatment Unit/s for SABR techniques Manufacturer and model
  Local Linac Name
Image guidance for SABR techniques CBCT
(delete responses which do not apply) 4D CBCT
  kV
  MV
  Other (please specify)
Please provide any further information which may be relevant to your participation Open-Ended Response
SECTION 2  
Please complete the information below Drop down options will appear for some questions
Radiation Oncologist Name
SABR/SBRT Site: Spine
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT technique overall  
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT contouring  
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT planning  
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT treatment position accuracy  
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT treatment dose accuracy  
SABR/SBRT Site with which you have the most confident: Enter Site
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT technique overall  
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT contouring  
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT planning  
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT treatment position accuracy  
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT treatment dose accuracy  
SABR/SBRT Site with which you have the least confident: Enter Site
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT technique overall  
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT contouring  
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT planning  
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT treatment position accuracy  
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT treatment dose accuracy  
Please describe any areas of SABR/SBRT treatment at your centre that you would like to improve  
Which, if any, additional sites would you like to be able to treat at your centre?  
Radiation Therapist Name
SABR/SBRT Site: Spine
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT technique overall  
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT contouring  
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT planning  
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT treatment position accuracy  
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT treatment dose accuracy  
SABR/SBRT Site with which you have the most confident: Enter Site
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT technique overall  
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT contouring  
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT planning  
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT treatment position accuracy  
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT treatment dose accuracy  
SABR/SBRT Site with which you have the least confident: Enter Site
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT technique overall  
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT contouring  
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT planning  
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT treatment position accuracy  
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT treatment dose accuracy  
Please describe any areas of SABR/SBRT treatment at your centre that you would like to improve  
Which, if any, additional sites would you like to be able to treat at your centre?  
Medical Physicist Name
SABR/SBRT Site: Spine
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT technique overall  
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT contouring  
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT planning  
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT treatment position accuracy  
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT treatment dose accuracy  
SABR/SBRT Site with which you have the most confident: Enter Site
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT technique overall  
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT contouring  
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT planning  
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT treatment position accuracy  
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT treatment dose accuracy  
SABR/SBRT Site with which you have the least confident: Enter Site
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT technique overall  
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT contouring  
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT planning  
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT treatment position accuracy  
Current level of confidence in SABR/SBRT treatment dose accuracy  
Please describe any areas of SABR/SBRT treatment at your centre that you would like to improve  
Which, if any, additional sites would you like to be able to treat at your centre?  
Timeline  
If you are not using SBRT/SABR, when do you plan to begin?  

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Claridge Mackonis, E.R., Hardcastle, N. & Haworth, A. Stereotactic ablative body radiation therapy (SABR) in NSW. Phys Eng Sci Med 43, 641–650 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13246-020-00866-3

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Keywords

  • SABR
  • SBRT
  • Stereotactic body radiation therapy
  • NSW
  • Survey