Recommendations for the referral of patients for proton-beam therapy, an Alberta Health Services report: a model for Canada?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Compared with photon therapy, proton-beam therapy (pbt) offers compelling advantages in physical dose distribution. Worldwide, gantry-based proton facilities are increasing in number, but no such facilities exist in Canada. To access pbt, Canadian patients must travel abroad for treatment at high cost. In the face of limited access, this report seeks to provide recommendations for the selection of patients most likely to benefit from pbt and suggests an out-of-country referral process.

Methods

The medline, embase, PubMed, and Cochrane databases were systematically searched for studies published between January 1990 and May 2014 that evaluated clinical outcomes after pbt. A draft report developed through a review of evidence was externally reviewed and then approve

SUBMITTER: Patel S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4189565 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature