Survey to assess present practice and address challenges in gynaecological brachytherapy in Australia and New Zealand

Introduction

This survey assessed gynaecological brachytherapy caseloads, local training requirements and quality assurance processes across Australia and New Zealand.

Methods

The survey was developed by the Gynaecological Oncology Radiation Oncology Collaboration (GOROC) and emailed to all centres offering gynaecological brachytherapy across Australia and New Zealand. It covered 9 areas including caseloads per centre and per radiation oncologist, techniques practised, local training requirements and quality assurance processes over a 2-year period – 2019 and 2020.

Results

The response rate was 18 out of 25 centres. All centres offered vaginal vault brachytherapy and 89% treated an average of at least 10 patients per annum. Intracavitary and/or interstitial brachytherapy was offered at 89% of centres of which 31% treated less than an average of 10 patients per annum and 23% of radiation oncologists did less than an average of 5 or more insertions per annum as recommended in the GOROC guidelines. Most centres required only Fellowship from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologist to practice gynaecological brachytherapy. Peer review of volumes and dosimetry was routinely performed in 28% and 17% of centres, respectively.

Conclusion

This survey adds to the limited literature available regarding practice patterns of brachytherapy worldwide. Ensuring adequate training and robust quality assurance processes with volume and dosimetry review may support all centres and clinicians to continue to safely offer this complex technique.