The impact of the treatment table on the quality of radiotherapy is significant
Even tiny deformations can cause deviations in the radiation field
Recent studies have shown how large the impact of the treatment table on the quality of radiotherapy is. Traditional plates frequently cannot withstand the strains of everyday clinical routine and therefore distort the radiotherapy. With growing precision in treatment, this leads to deviations that could be critical to the success or failure of treatment. Previously, the table had been given limited consideration when it came to the optimization of radiotherapy. By preventing possible deviations caused by the impact of the treatment table, patient safety can improve in turn. In order to investigate the impact of the treatment table, incline measurements were made under as realistic conditions and patient-typical loads as possible. These found some large incline changes in the plate but laterally and length-ways – to a growing extent with a longitudinal adjustment towards the linear accelerator. Deviations in the angle of rotation are also possible, with the most common case being a combination of deviations in all directions. The measurement values for the deviations in these studies were in the order of a few millimeters – in a precisely planned radiotherapy session with a high dosage, this results in unnecessary damage to healthy tissue and poorer accuracy in the area of the tumor. That’s why the Radiotherapy Patient System RPS has an integrated RFID reader (radio frequency identification). The reader determines the exact position of the patient without physical contact, compares this position with the target values and corrects the position automatically. This turns the impact of the treatment table on its head and makes it an advantage that can be used to improve patient safety.
The impact of the treatment table can also be exploited in a positive way
Systems that can adjust and compensate for as many parameters as possible make a contribution to improving patient safety. In addition to changes in position, the RPS also monitors breathing movements or peristalsis and ensures that these minimal movements of the body do not change the position of the patients while they’re under the linear accelerator. The mechanics of the table have improved further in comparison with traditional models, as the deformation forces exacted on the table can be seen even more clearly the heavier the patient. RPS has therefore been optimized for patients weighing up to 250 kilograms. The impact of the treatment table on the quality of radiotherapy is significant – modern treatment benches such as the RPS contribute to patient safety.
Would you like to find out more about the impact of the treatment table on the quality of radiotherapy and about the Radiotherapy Patient System? Then send us an email to info@gkteso.de.
