Abstract

ALERT SILVA, José. La garantía de calidad del tratamiento radiante: enfoques médicos. Rev cubana med [online]. 2002, vol.41, n.5, pp. 283-288. ISSN 1561-302X.

Radiotherapy is one of the basic therapeutical tools in the management of malignant tumors: 50-60% is susceptible to radiation in the course of their evolution, either for curative or palliative purposes. The objectives of radiotherapy are to apply the most homogenous adequate dose to the tumor volume, to preserve the healthy tissues and to have minimum exposure of the health care staff. To assure these objectives, it is necessary to apply a quality control or assurance that covers closely related medical and physical aspects. Among the medical aspects there are: a) those comprising the therapeutical programs or policies which define the proposed techniques, the external radiation, brachytherapy, dose, areas or volumes to be irradiated, taking into account tumor staging, locations, etc. and specify certain actions according to the steps to be followed (multidisciplinary evaluation, therapeutical decision, treatment planning, implementation and verification of therapy), actions that cover not only medical steps but also physical aspects such as dosimetry, inmmobilization devices, blockage, etc; b)those comprising technical and physical elements such as check-ins in simulation equipment, radiation equipment, and the daily correct application of the prescribed and planned treatment, and c)systematic reviews of treatment programs, follow-up of cases and obtained results. It may be inferred from the above-mentioned that it is required to have and apply a quality control program for radiotherapy that assures an optimum quality treatment.

Keywords : NEOPLASMS [radiotherapy]; RADIATION TOLERANCE; QUALITY CONTROL; RADIOMETRY, BRACHYTHERAPY; QUALITY ASSURANCE, HEALTH CARE.