Current Status of Stereotactic Radiotherapy in Türkiye: Turkish Society for Radiation Oncology Stereotactic Radiotherapy Study Group 10-006 Survey


Creative Commons License

DURU BİRGİ S., Turna M., Çağlar H. B., Akkuş Yildirim B., YÜCE SARI S., AKYÜREK S., ...More

Turk Onkoloji Dergisi, vol.38, no.4, pp.407-416, 2023 (ESCI) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 38 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Doi Number: 10.5505/tjo.2023.4134
  • Journal Name: Turk Onkoloji Dergisi
  • Journal Indexes: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, CINAHL, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Page Numbers: pp.407-416
  • Keywords: Cancer, stereotactic body radiotherapy, stereotactic radiotherapy, survey
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

OBJECTIVE Stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT)/Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) constitutes extensively employed therapeutic modalities for various cancer types in our country, offering precise and conformal delivery of high radiation doses. This survey aims to analyze the current status of SRT/SBRT in our country. METHODS A total of 34 questions were asked by an online survey through Google Forms (SurveyMonkey) in Oc-tober 2021. This nationwide survey focused on the demographic information of participants, SRT application techniques, treatment planning, and the utilization of SRT in clinical practice. RESULTS The survey was completed by a total of 106 respondents. A predominant number of participants be-longed to the 40–50 age group, with <10 years of experience. Linear accelerators (92%) were the most common devices used for SRT, followed by CyberKnife (27%), Gamma Knife (5%), and Magnetic res-onance imaging-Linac (3%). Combined kilovolt/megavolt portal imaging with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) was the most commonly used imaging verification method (58%). Treatments typically began within 2–7 days (76%) after simulation. The number of patients treated with SRT/SBRT over the past year varied in a wide range, with a median of 50 (range: 0–1000) patients. SRT/SBRT was applied in many cancer types including mostly brain (98%), lung (89%), bone (89%), adrenal (64%), liver (47%), prostate (42%), head and neck (41%), pancreas (35%), and other tumors (3%). CONCLUSION SRT/SBRT applications in our country vary in terms of number, experience, and treated tumor groups. These results are crucial for understanding the current status of SRT, treatment indications, challenges, and diversity in application approaches in our country.