Conformal radiotherapy
Medical Services Advisory Committee
Record ID 32002000524
English
Authors' objectives:
This report aims to assess the effectiveness of conformal radiotherapy (CRT) (also known as three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy - a method of delivering radiotherapy that uses computer planning and treatment systems to tailor the size and shape of the dose area to the ideal target volume, with maximum exclusion of the surrounding normal tissue.
Authors' results and conclusions:
The body of evidence on which the efficacy outcomes is based is relatively small. From the three randomised trials included, only two trials had any information on efficacy. Based on this limited data it would appear that, in the treatment of prostate cancer, conformal radiotherapy results in similar efficacy to that experienced using conventional radiotherapy when delivering similar doses.
There is also some randomised and non-randomised evidence to suggest that higher doses of radiotherapy, delivered by conformal radiotherapy, may result in increased efficacy for patients with carcinoma of the prostate.
Some low level evidence exists to suggest that CRT, as well as intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), may be of benefit in the sparing of normal tissue structures and may contribute to the decrease in toxicity.
Authors' recommendations:
MSAC recommended that on the strength of evidence pertaining to the safety, efficacy and cost of conformal radiotherapy that public funding should be supported for this procedure and that intensity modulated radiation therapy should be reviewed again at a later date when substantial additional data are available relating to safety, effectiveness and cost effectiveness.
Authors' methods:
Systematic review
Details
Project Status:
Completed
URL for project:
http://www.msac.gov.au/reports.htm
Year Published:
2002
English language abstract:
An English language summary is available
Publication Type:
Not Assigned
Country:
Australia
MeSH Terms
- Radiotherapy
Contact
Organisation Name:
Medical Services Advisory Committee
Contact Address:
MSAC (MDP 107), GPO Box 9848, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia. Tel: +61 2 6289 6811; Fax: +61 2 6289 8799.
Contact Name:
msac.secretariat@health.gov.au
Contact Email:
msac.secretariat@health.gov.au
Copyright:
Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC)
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.