Quality in radiotherapy

Abstract This chapter, ‘Quality in Radiotherapy’, demonstrates how the implementation and development of quality systems over the past 30 years has contributed to the radiotherapy process in the United Kingdom. The nomenclature surrounding quality systems is defined and the subtle differences between accuracy and precision are clarified, as are those between quality control (QC) and quality assurance (QA). Important developments in equipment technology highlight the significant quality improvements that have occurred in the delivery accuracy of radiotherapy through image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT). Significant radiotherapy incidents are used as learning points to demonstrate the consequences of quality failure.