The advanced radiotherapy network (ART-NET) UK lung stereotactic ablative radiotherapy survey: national provision and a focus on image guidance.

OBJECTIVE: Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) has become the standard of care for suitable patients with peripherally located early stage non-small cell lung cancer. Lung SABR requires strict image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) protocols to ensure its safe delivery. The aim of this survey was to provide an assessment of current lung SABR practice in the UK.

METHODS: An online semi-structured survey containing a maximum of 32 questions regarding lung SABR, focussing on treatment image verification processes was piloted, developed and disseminated to the radiotherapy managers of 62 National Health Service centres across the UK.

RESULTS: The survey had a 100% complete response from NHS centres. 36 centres (58%) currently deliver lung SABR, with half treating fewer than 50 patients per year. Six centres deliver SABR despite not being commissioned by the NHS to provide this service. There is wide variation in the use of IGRT. Eight different permutations of cone beam CT order within the workflow were reported. Almost half of lung centres (17/36, 47%) believe there is a need to update national image guidance associated with lung SABR, such as the use of ‘day zero’, mid treatment and post treatment cone beam CTs.

CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate wide variation in IGRT for lung SABR. There is an opportunity to develop existing IGRT workflows and the optimal approach to image guidance. Further work is required to investigate lung SABR provision and potential barriers to its implementation.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: This survey represents the most comprehensive and accurate assessment of lung SABR practice in the UK since the 2014 SABR consortium survey.