A two-year experience of implementing 3 dimensional radiation therapy and intensity-modulated radiation therapy for 925 patients in King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.

Background And Objective: Three dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D CRT) and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) have been implemented at Department of Therapeutic Radiation and Oncology, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital (KCMH) since July 2005. This is the first study in Thailand to evaluate the pattern of care and utilization of 3D CRT and IMRT for treatment in each individual cancer.

Material And Method: Between July 2005 and July 2007, 925 newly diagnosed cancer patients underwent IMRT or 3D CRT at KCMH. The authors retrospectively reviewed the experience and utilization of 3D CRT and IMRT for each disease site and region.

Results: There were 471 males and 454 females. There were 332 patients (35.9%) treated with IMRT. Among the 332 IMRT patients, there were 100, 32 and 27 nasopharyngeal, lung and prostate cancers, respectively. On the contrary, 593 patients (64.1%) were treated with 3D CRT. Among these, breast, cervix and lung cancers were the most common diseases. Except for head and neck as well as genitourinary cancer 3D CRT was still the main technique used in more than 60% of the patients at KCMH.

Conclusion: 3D CRT and IMRT have been successfully implemented at KCMH for 2 years. Three dimensional conformal radiation therapy was still the main technique used in more than 60% of the patients at KCMH. Prospective studies evaluating tumor control and treatment sequelae are expected.