The White Book of Radiation Oncology in Spain

Abstract

The White Book of Radiation Oncology provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of the speciality of radiation oncology in Spain and is intended to be used as a reference for physicians, health care administrators and hospital managers. The present paper summarises the most relevant aspects of the book's 13 chapters in order to bring the message to a wider audience. Among the topics discussed are the epidemiology of cancer in Spain, the role of the radiation oncologist in cancer care, human and material resource needs, new technologies, training of specialists, clinical and cost management, clinical practice, quality control, radiological protection, ethics, relevant legislation, research & development, the history of radiation oncology in Spain and the origins of the Spanish Society of Radiation Oncology (SEOR).

Patterns of care for brachytherapy in Europe: updated results for Spain

“…Availability of modern equipment and advanced treatment techniques HDR BT is available at most reporting centres, however there are still regions within Spain in which coverage for this treatment option is scant, a situation described in more detail in the recently published (2010) White Book of Radiation Oncology in Spain [38]. The rise of HDR BT in recent years, primarily due to its ability to optimise doses while simultaneously minimising the risk of irradiating hospital staff, opens up new indications for its use.…”

Challenges of Radiation Oncology in Spain Today

“…Health care in Spain is organised as a National Health System (NHS) [8], with universal, free coverage for all Spanish citizens. [9]. This equipment replacement, which will undoubtedly require a heavy investment, should be viewed from at least two perspectives.…”

Promises and pitfalls of new technology in radiotherapy

“…Much of this recent progress is due to increased computing power, which allows for nearly instantaneous dosimetric calculations and real-time imaging. IMRT has been called ''the most significant technical advance in radiation therapy since the linear accelerator'' [1] and there is no doubt that IMRT is a significant improvement over 3D-CRT, which, until very recently, was the standard of care [2,3].…”