The Radiological Physics Center (RPC) was established upon the recommendation of the Committee on Radiation Therapy Studies (CRTS), now the committee on Radiation Oncology Studies (CROS), under the sponsorphip of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) to insure the correctness and consistency of radiation dosimetry among institutions involved in interinstitutional clinical trials. Review of dosimetry is accomplished by visits to institutions by a physicist, irradiation of various mail-out dosimeters, and by review of dosimetry on patients entered into clinical trials. When errors are discovered, the RPC cooperates with the institution to rectify the errors. To date there are 15 active clinical study groups and 4 intergroup efforts served by the RPC. The RPC is presently reviewing individual patients records for patients entered onto 54 active protocols. Numerous protocols are in planning stages. Visits have been made to 254 institutions. Dosimetry discrepancies have been found at 98 institutions of which 88 have been resolved. The review of brachytherapy calibration and dosimetry calculation has begun. Measurement of brachytherapy calibration's have been done at 27 institutions. Efforts are made to develop calculative methods and efficient techniques for measurements that are important to clinical trials. Experience gained in developing quality control procedures for one clinical trial is communicated to other clinical trial groups. This information and other knowledge gained are communicated to the radiological community.
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