Quality assurance audit in an Australasian phase III trial of accelerated radiotherapy for head and neck cancer (TROG 91.01)

Authors: Hamilton, C¹; Poulsen, M²; Walker, Q³; Krawitz, H⁴; Hindley, A⁵; Spry, N⁶; Peters, L⁷; Lamb, D⁸; Denham, J¹; Steigler, A¹

Source: Australasian Radiology, Volume 43, Number 2, May 1999 , pp. 227-232(6)

Publisher: Blackwell Publishing

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Abstract:

The Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group (TROG) initiated a randomized trial, testing accelerated (twice daily) radiotherapy against conventional radiotherapy for stage III and stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck in 1991. In 1996, the Trial Management Committee arranged for a technical audit of 76 cases from 11 institutions, conducted by investigators from interstate institutions. A 10% unacceptable protocol violation rate was detected, which compares favourably with initial Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) experience in the late 1970s. Infrastructural deficits with poor quality of documentation, incomplete retrieval of films and document return have been demonstrated in some cases. The Trans-Tasman Radiation Oncology Group is actively pursuing procedural and resourcing issues in order to redress this and is actively expanding its Quality Assurance (QA) Programme with an intercentre dosimetry study. Ultimately, comprehensive clinical and technical QA site visits are planned.

Keywords: accelerated radiotherapy; head and neck cancer; phase III trial; quality assurance

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1046/j.1440-1673.1999.00639.x

Affiliations: 1: Department of Radiation Oncology, Newcastle Mater Misericordiae Hospital, New South Wales, 2: Queensland Radium Institute Mater Centre, South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 3: Queensland Radium Institute, Royal Brisbane Hospital, Herston, Queensland, Australia, 4: Auckland Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand, 5: Lancashire and Lakeland Radiotherapy Unit, Royal Preston Hospital, Fullwood, Preston, UK, 6: Department of Radiation Oncology, Geelong Hospital, Geelong, 7: Peter MacCallum Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and, 8: Department of Radiation Oncology, Wellington Hospital, Wellington, New Zealand

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