ESTRO-EPTN guidelines for independent dose calculation and log file-based patient-specific quality assurance in scanned particle therapy
In brief
European guidelines pair independent dose checks with treatment-log review
New European consensus guidelines recommend independent dose calculation to verify the treatment plan and log file review to assess what was delivered in scanned particle therapy. When validated and combined with robust machine quality checks, the methods can detect clinically relevant deviations and reduce reliance on phantom measurements. Their safe use still depends on managing model limits, risks, and data traceability.
- Journal
- Physics and imaging in radiation oncology (Q1)
- Published
- 10 October 2026
- Study design
- Practice guideline / consensus
- Evidence level
- Level 1, High (CEBM 1c)
- Authors
- Loïc Grevillot, Oliver Jäkel, Abdallah Qubala, Julian Horn, Adam H Aitkenhead, Xiaoying Liang, et al.
- PMID
- 42921085
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.phro.2026.101109
Why clinicians should know about it
- Picked for Medical Physics (paper of the day, 27 October 2026): Consensus guidance for particle therapy dose calculation and QA
- Picked for Radiology, Radiation Oncology, Nuclear Medicine, Medical Physics and Imaging (paper of the day, 26 October 2026): Particle therapy dose calculation and patient-specific QA consensus guidelines
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Independent dose calculation (IDC) and log file-based patient-specific quality assurance (PSQA) are increasingly used in scanned particle therapy (PT) to address pitfalls of phantom-based verifications. Highly modulated treatment fields, steep dose gradients, and growing interest for adaptive treatments require quality assurance (QA) approaches that are cost effective, patient-specific, and closely linked to the delivered treatment. Practical guidance is therefore needed for the safe clinical implementation of IDC- and log file-based PSQA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ESTRO-EPTN (European Particle Therapy Network) developed consensus-based recommendations on IDC- and log file-based PSQA in PT. Current clinical practice, commissioning strategies, risk-management approaches, and available technical solutions were evaluated. Following a review of the literature, expert-based guidelines were developed covering clinical scopes, acceptance, commissioning and validation, integration with machine QA, data management, governance, and staged implementation. RESULTS: IDC- and log file-based PSQA were identified as complementary elements within a quality-management framework. Log file-based approaches enable evaluation of the delivered treatment fraction(s), while IDC provides computational verification of the planned dose. When appropriately validated, these methods increase sensitivity to potentially clinically relevant deviations and can substantially reduce reliance on phantom-based measurements. Safe application requires robust machine QA, characterization of model limitations, risk analysis, and data traceability. Recommendations applicable to all centers were developed for IDC. Log file-based PSQA recommendations include minimum requirements for the vendors. CONCLUSIONS: These recommendations aim to promote consistent and safe adoption across PT centers, while preserving the need for machine QA.
Abstract as published, via PubMed.
For healthcare professionals. The summary is generated by AI from the published abstract, and the evidence level is assigned automatically from the study design on the Oxford CEBM hierarchy. Neither is medical advice. Read the full paper before changing practice.