Guidelines for external radiotherapy and brachytherapy procedures: 3rd edition.

Area of Science:

• Radiation Oncology
• Medical Physics

Background:

• Previous guidelines (2007, 2016) focused on external radiotherapy.
• Need for updated recommendations due to technological advancements and new research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide updated recommendations for external radiotherapy and brachytherapy.
• To optimize, harmonize, and standardize radiation therapy practices.
• To incorporate recent technological improvements and literature findings.

Main Methods:

• Review and synthesis of current literature.
• Inclusion of recent technological advancements like intensity-modulated radiation therapy, stereotactic radiotherapy, and 3D brachytherapy.
• Structuring guidelines into general principles and cancer-specific treatment steps.

Main Results:

• The third edition includes brachytherapy alongside external radiotherapy.
• Guidelines cover daily general principles (quality, security, image-guided radiation therapy).
• Detailed treatment steps for major cancer types are described.

Conclusions:

• The updated guidelines aim to standardize and improve radiation therapy practices.
• Integration of new technologies enhances treatment precision and patient care.
• This resource supports oncologists and physicists in delivering optimal radiotherapy.