S1504
Interdisciplinary - Quality assurance and risk management
ESTRO 2026
Premature radiotherapy discontinuation as a quality indicator: A five-year institutional analysis of underlying factors Javier González-Viguera, Míriam Núñez, Joel Martínez, Xavier Martín, Ferran Ferrer, Olalla Santa Cruz, Miquel Macià, Ferran Guedea, María Aránzazu Eraso Radiation Oncology Department, Catalan Institute of Oncology, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona), Spain Purpose/Objective: To analyse the frequency of premature radiotherapy discontinuation and identify associated factors in a cohort treated between 2020-2024. Material/Methods: A retrospective descriptive study of 15,985 radiotherapy treatments performed between January 2020 and December 2024. Premature discontinuation was defined as the cessation of treatment before completing the planned dose for any reason. Demographic, clinical, and treatment variables were analysed, and the reasons for discontinuation were classified into predefined categories. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics to identify associated factors. Results: A total of 279 premature discontinuations (1.75%) were recorded. The mean age was 66.0 ± 13.9 years, with a male predominance (60.2%). Palliative treatments accounted for 53.4% versus 46.6% for curative-intent treatments. The main causes were death due to oncological reasons (30.5%), oncological complications (26.2%), and non-oncological complications (21.9%). On-treatment mortality reached 39.1%. A compromised performance status (KPS <70) was present in 29.7% of cases. COVID-19 caused only 8 direct discontinuations (2.8%). The temporal distribution showed a peak in 2020 (75 cases) followed by stabilization. The main predictors identified were advanced age, compromised performance status, metastatic disease, palliative treatment intent, and treatment initiation delays.
Conclusion: The premature discontinuation rate was low
compared to international standards. Oncological factors were the predominant causes, especially in palliative treatments. The direct impact of COVID-19 was minimal. The results suggest appropriate patient selection and support the implementation of intensive follow-up strategies for high-risk subgroups. Keywords: Discontinuation, Quality assurance, COVID- 19
Digital Poster 1207
Establishing a National Radiotherapy Quality Assurance Working Group in Ireland: Enhancing Clinical Trial Readiness and Collaboration Sandra Harkin 1,2 , Roisin OMaolalai 3,4 , James Waldron 1,2 , Karen Molan 5 , Sinead Cleary 6 , Roisin Conaty 7 , Roisin ORourke 8 , Eimear ONeill 9 , Fran Duane 3 , Killian Nugent 10 , Joseph Martin 11 , Kathy Rock 12 , Louise ONeill 1 , Mary Anne Stritch 13 , Sarah Leonard 14 , Joni Liddy 15 , Darina Hickey 16 , Paul Hill 8 , Ella OSullivan 17 , Laura Nally 15 , Erica Bennett 5 , Anna Kirby 18 , Carmel Anandadas 19 , Elizabeth Myles 20 , Sinead Brennan 3,21 1 Physics, St Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, Dublin, Ireland. 2 Physics, Irish Research in Radiation Oncology Group, Dublin, Ireland. 3 Radiation Oncology, St Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, Dublin, Ireland. 4 Radiation Therapy, Irish Research in Radiation Oncology Group, Dublin, Ireland. 5 Radiotherapy, Bons Secours Hospital, Cork, Ireland. 6 Physics, University Hospital Galway, Galway, Ireland. 7 Radiotherapy, Beacon Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. 8 Physics, Cork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland. 9 Physics, UPMC Whitfield Hospital, Waterford, Ireland. 10 Radiation Oncology, Cork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland. 11 Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Galway, Galway, Ireland. 12 Radiation Oncology, Bons Secours Hospital, Cork, Ireland. 13 Radiotherapy, St Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, Dublin, Ireland. 14 Physics, Bons Secours Hospital, Cork, Ireland. 15 Radiotherapy, University Hospital Galway, Galway, Ireland. 16 Physics, Beacon Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. 17 Radiotherapy, Cork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland. 18 Breast Unit, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Sutton Surrey, United Kingdom. 19 Clinical Oncology, The Christie Hospital NHS Foundation Trust,
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