Assessment of dose reliability in radiotherapy practices in Türkiye: A multicenter study

Dose accuracy in radiotherapy is crucial for treatment outcomes and patient safety. Ensuring dose accuracy allows for effective targeting of tumors while protecting surrounding healthy tissues. The quality assurance programs implemented worldwide by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are among the most effective methods to enhance dose reliability, particularly in developing countries.

This study aims to comprehensively evaluate the reliability of treatment doses applied in radiotherapy centers across Türkiye and to determine the impact of national dose control processes.

The study, thoroughly analyzes dose accuracy in public, private, and university hospitals across six geographical regions of Türkiye. The study investigates whether the treatment doses administered by these centers comply with internationally accepted limits using the IAEA/WHO thermoluminescent dosimetry (TLD) audit standards. In these audits, the accuracy and consistency of the doses applied by each center were evaluated and compared with international standards.

Among the 34 participating centers, 6% achieved dose deviations within ±1%, while 68% were within the widely accepted ±5% tolerance range. Notably, 26% of the centers exhibited deviations in the ±4%-5% band. Differences in dose accuracy were observed between center types and geographical regions. These results provide a snapshot of national performance and highlight areas for quality improvement. The results indicate that while dose reliability in Türkiye is generally within acceptable limits, deviations in some regions suggest the need for further standardization among centers.

These findings underscore the importance of sustainable dose control processes at the national level and highlight their role in improving the quality of radiotherapy services in Türkiye. The study emphasizes that future dose calibration programs and training will further enhance dose accuracy across the country, contributing to safe and effective treatment for patients.