Record and Verify Systems for Radiation Treatment of Cancer: Acceptance Testing, Commissioning and Quality Control

This publication serves as a useful guide for medical physicists in radiation oncology, radiation oncologists and radiation therapists, ensuring accuracy, safety and quality in radiation therapy. Record and verify systems (RVSs) were developed to reduce the risk of treatment errors in radiation oncology. These have recently evolved into complete radiotherapy information management systems that interface with imaging systems, treatment planning computers and treatment delivery systems. To function as intended, RVSs must be subject to a comprehensive quality assurance (QA) programme. This publication provides practical guidelines for a comprehensive QA programme and its implementation. It describes the QA programme, including acceptance tests and the commissioning process that should be used in conjunction with the installation of a new RVS. It is also highlighted that some of the tests performed at installation must be repeated regularly as part of the periodic quality control checks.