Onkologie. 2024:18(4):262-265 | DOI: 10.36290/xon.2024.054

Use of contrast agent in planning CT scan in radiotherapy

Karolína Michaličková¹, Jakub Grepl^{1, 2}

¹ Klinika onkologie a radioterapie, Fakultní nemocnice Hradec Králové

² Ústav radiační terapie, Ústřední vojenská nemocnice - Vojenská fakultní nemocnice Praha

The planning CT scan is an essential part of the radiotherapy planning process. However iodine contrast agent (ICA) for CT scans is well known in radiology, there is a lack of national guidelines for ICA use in radiation onkology. So, there is no standardization of how and when it is appropriate to use ICA in planning CT. In 2023, an anonymous questionnaire survey was sent to all regional radiation oncology centers in the Czech Republic. The survey results showed that ICA is used mainly for the head and neck region. It is less commonly used in the region of the thyroid gland, lungs, liver, pancreas, and esophagus. From the survey, it is evident that there is inadequate utilization of ICA in planning CT scans in individual cancer centers. Moreover, there are differences in their application. It is apparent that there is a lack of standardization of procedures in the area of ICA utilization in planning CT in radiation therapy. The results indicate that there is a need to standardize all procedures related to ICA in planning CT in radiotherapy in the Czech Republic.

Keywords: contrast agent, radiotherapy, standard of care.

Accepted: October 1, 2024; Published: October 7, 2024  Show citation