SU‐FF‐T‐306: Credentialing Requirements for NSABP B‐39 / RTOG 0413

Purpose: NSABP B‐39 / RTOG 0413 is a Phase III trial comparing Whole Breast Irradiation versus Partial Breast Irradiation (PBI). The partial breast arm consists of 3 techniques, 3D Conformal Radiation Therapy, MammoSite and multi‐catheter HDR. For each of these techniques an institution, radiation oncologist and physicist “team” must be credentialed. Credentialing requires completing knowledge assessment and facility questionnaires, importing a DICOM CT image set, performing a treatment plan using the image set and exporting the images, structures and isodoses to the Image‐Guided Therapy QA Center (ITC). Method & Materials: An institution can obtain the Knowledge Assessment and Facility Questionnaires from the RPC's website (http://rpc.mdanderson.org). These questionnaires can be completed online, emailed, faxed or mailed directly to the RPC. An institution may be credentialed for one or more of the PBI techniques. A CT benchmark case exists for each PBI technique. The institution is required to import the appropriate CT image set into their treatment planning system. The benchmark must be planned per protocol. The benchmark must then be digitally exported to the ITC along with all required hard copy data. The RPC will review each benchmark case submitted. Once the RPC has completed its review NSABP will be informed that the institution has met the requirements for credentialing and will be allowed to enter patients onto the protocol. Conclusion: The purpose of credentialing is to verify that the radiation oncologist and other personnel involved are familiar with the protocol and can plan a case per protocol prior to placing a patient on protocol. This process enables us to give a “team” feedback prior to treating a patient on the trial potentially enabling us to reduce the number of deviations incurred on the trial. This work was supported by PHS grant CA 10953 awarded by NCI, DHHS.