To read this content please select one of the options below:

Feasibility study of using statistical process control to optimize quality assurance in radiotherapy

Karine Gerard (Centre de Recherche en Automatique de Nancy, CRAN UMR 7039 CNRS, Nancy, France; Centre Alexis Vautrin, Nancy, France, and DOSIsoft s.a., Cachan, France)
Jean‐Pierre Grandhaye (ERPI‐INPL EA 3767, Nancy, France)
Vincent Marchesi (Centre Alexis Vautrin, Nancy, France)
Pierre Aletti (Centre de Recherche en Automatique de Nancy, CRAN UMR 7039 CNRS, Nancy, France and Centre Alexis Vautrin, Nancy, France)
François Husson (DOSIsoft s.a., Cachan, France)
Alain Noel (Centre de Recherche en Automatique de Nancy, CRAN UMR 7039 CNRS, Nancy, France and Centre Alexis Vautrin, Nancy, France)
Hanna Kafrouni (DOSIsoft s.a., Cachan, France)

Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering

ISSN: 1355-2511

Article publication date: 25 September 2009

1225

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate and improve the quality and the reliability of pre‐treatment quality controls of an efficient technique of radiotherapy called IMRT (intensity‐modulated radiation therapy). The aim is then to determine if the controls can be safely reduced while keeping an optimal level of quality.

Design/methodology/approach

The statistical process control method (SPC) was applied to quality assurance in IMRT. In order to characterize prostate and head‐and‐neck treatment process variability, individual value control charts and moving‐range control charts were established.

Findings

Control charts showed that prostate and head‐and‐neck treatment processes are only subject to random causes of variability, which means they are statistically controlled. It was proved that both processes are statistically stable and capable.

Originality/value

The paper shows that SPC is an efficient method to objectively determine if quality controls can be reduced.

Keywords

Citation

Gerard, K., Grandhaye, J., Marchesi, V., Aletti, P., Husson, F., Noel, A. and Kafrouni, H. (2009), "Feasibility study of using statistical process control to optimize quality assurance in radiotherapy", Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, Vol. 15 No. 4, pp. 331-343. https://doi.org/10.1108/13552510910997715

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2009, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Related articles