Back to sessions
Sep 29
Education

EDU 50 - Establishing a National Quality Assurance Framework for Brachytherapy Trials: An Unmet Need

03:45pm - 05:00pm ET
Patient Safety and Quality
Radiation and Cancer Physics
Physicists
Artificial Intelligence (AI)

MODERATOR(S)

Hayeon Kim, PhD - Magee Womens Hospital of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

session DESCRIPTION

Standardization in treatment planning and delivery for radiation therapy (RT) is critical for multi-institutional clinical trials. Without it, trial results risk inconsistency and reduced reliability. External beam RT trials have long benefited from robust credentialing and quality assurance (QA) programs such as benchmark cases, dummy runs, pre-treatment and on treatment reviews, and structured data management, which have demonstrably improved trial integrity and patient outcomes. In stark contrast, brachytherapy (BT) trials in the U.S. lack a unified QA infrastructure. This gap leaves essential BT processes such as imaging, contouring, applicator reconstruction, treatment planning, quality evaluation and dose reporting fragmented and inconsistent. Given the complexity and human-factor dependency of BT procedures, the absence of standardization compromises reproducibility and patient safety. The urgency for a robust QA program is further highlighted by rapid advancements in BT applicator technology, muti-imaging modalities, model-based dose calculations and real-time tracking. Recognizing this unmet need, AAPM Task Group 425 (TG-425) has been formed in collaboration with NRG, IROC, ABS and EFOMP to establish a structured QA framework for BT trials. We will present ongoing efforts by TG-425, addressing current gaps in BT trial QAs, outline a comprehensive BT QA workflow, and explore the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing trial QA processes. Ultimately, our goal is to provide practical guidance for multi-disciplinary teams including trial designers, QA centers, and participating institutions on adopting standardized BT QA programs, from trial activation through post-treatment data management, ensuring consistency, safety and scientific rigor in future BT trials.

learning objectives

  1. Explain QA gaps and best practices regarding BT clinical trials.
  2. Identify key components of a robust BT specific quality assurance (QA) program from trial activation to post treatment for BT clinical trials across the multi-disciplinary team.
  3. Apply guidance for enhancing brachytherapy trial quality using a structured QA framework and emerging AI applications.

Credits

AMA PRA Category 1 Credits: 1.00

Rate This Session

Presentations