Findings on radiotherapy facilities

The status of radiotherapy in Japan at the end of 1990 was investigated. The census was carried out by mailing a questionnaire to radiotherapy facilities. Four hundred and thirty one (431) questionnaires were returned out of the 778 mailed. Available data on radiotherapy equipment and staff of 378 facilities in which some cancer patients received radiotherapy during 1990 were analyzed. Although most university hospitals or cancer centers had sufficient radiotherapy equipment and staff, less than 25% of hospitals were recognized as general radiotherapy facilities which have an external radiotherapy unit, brachytherapy unit (both intracavitary and interstitial irradiation units) and supportive equipments such as X-ray simulators. The average numbers of full-time radiotherapists and radiotherapy technicians per facility were 1.6. In small facilities which treat less than 50 patients per year, radiotherapy was performed with collaboration of part-time radiotherapists and technicians. (author)