Brachytherapy Credentialing:

Institutions wishing to enter patients onto protocols that include permanent prostate brachytherapy implants must be credentialed prior to participation in the study. Because these procedures require a team effort, the institution, the radiation oncologist and radiation physicist are credentialed as a team.

1. Facility Questionnaire

2. Knowledge Assessment Form

•  RTOG requires that the prostate team must have performed at least 10 TRUS guided prostate implants. At the bottom of the ATC Knowledge Assessment Form you will be asked to attest to this by your signature.

3. Reference Cases 1 and 2

4. Hardcopy of one recent implant case performed by the radiation oncologist and physicist team

•  Ultrasound images, needle loading information, DVH and isodoses in either a pre-plan or real-time plan format

•  Post implant treatment plan

5. Electronically submit post implant data for the same patient to the ITC. Directions on submitting data can be found on the ATC webpage. A list of items that need to be submitted to the ITC are can be found on the ATC webpage.

Packages are to be submitted to:

Attention: Dosimetry Team
IROC Houston QA Center
8060 EL RIO St.
Houston , TX 77054

Note:

An institution that has been previously credentialed for a radiation source model does not need to submit the complete package to become credentialed for an additional source model. It is only necessary to submit the two reference cases, performed with the new source model. Similarly, changing to a different treatment planning system requires re-credentialing, and only the two reference cases need to be submitted. However, if there is a change in physicist, you need to complete items 2 and 3 above. A change in physician requires a submission of items 2, 4, and 5.

References:

1.  Common Errors Found in Low Dose Rate (LDR) Prostate Credentialing - ASTRO 2013 Poster

2.  Sample of a satisfactory Dry-run Case