Advanced Radiotherapy Techniques

Africa’s readiness for artificial intelligence in clinical radiotherapy delivery: Medical physicists to lead the way

BACKGROUND: There have been several proposals by researchers for the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology due to its promising role in radiotherapy practice. However, prior to the introduction of the technology, there are certain general recommendations that must be achieved. Also, the current challenges of AI must be addressed. In this review, we assess how Africa is prepared for the integration of AI technology into radiotherapy service delivery. METHODS: To assess the readiness of Africa for integration of AI in radiotherapy services delivery, a narrative review of the available literature from PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Scopus was conducted in the English language using search terms such as Artificial Intelligence, Radiotherapy in Africa, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, and Quality Assurance. RESULTS: We identified a number of issues that could limit the successful integration of AI technology into radiotherapy practice. The major issues include insufficient data for training and validation of AI models, lack of educational curriculum for AI radiotherapy-related courses, no/limited AI teaching professionals, funding, and lack of AI technology and resources. Solutions identified to facilitate smooth implementation of the technology into radiotherapy practices within the region include: creating an accessible national data bank, integrating AI radiotherapy training programs into Africa's educational curriculum, investing in AI technology and resources such as electronic health records and cloud storage, and creation of legal laws and policies to support the use of the technology. These identified solutions need to be implemented on the background of creating awareness among health workers within the radiotherapy space. CONCLUSION: The challenges identified in this review are common among all the geographical regions in the African continent. Therefore, all institutions offering radiotherapy education and training programs, management of the medical centers for radiotherapy and oncology, national and regional professional bodies for medical physics, ministries of health, governments, and relevant stakeholders must take keen interest and work together to achieve this goal.

Medical physics services in radiology and nuclear medicine in Africa: challenges and opportunities identified through workforce and infrastructure surveys

Abstract The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) developed a staffing model to estimate the number of clinically qualified medical physicists (CQMP) that are required in an imaging facility, including diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine. For the first time this staffing model was applied on a large scale across Africa. Within the framework of the IAEA African Regional Agreement (AFRA) Technical Cooperation (TC) project RAF6/053 entitled “Enhancing Capacity Building of Medical Physics to Improve Safety and Effectiveness of Medical Imaging (AFRA)”, a survey based on the IAEA staffing model was used to investigate the current CQMP workforce needs in imaging and radionuclide therapy in Africa in order to establish a baseline, identify gaps and suggest steps for improvement. The survey was open for five months, after which data verification was performed. 82 responses were received from 21 countries, including data from 97 diagnostic radiology and 40 nuclear medicine departments, as well as 75 interventional radiology departments and/or catheterization laboratories. Only 26·8% of centres employed an adequate number of CQMPs. The staffing model indicated that 134·3 CQMPs were required for these centres, but only 63 are currently employed in medical imaging and/or nuclear medicine at these centres. At least 11 countries do not have a single institution with an adequate number of CQMPs. Data analysis indicated that the number of radiology and nuclear medicine CQMPs is largely inadequate, at least by a factor of 20 in almost all countries in the region.

Medical physics practice and training in Ghana

Radiation Therapy Physics Quality Assurance and Management Practices in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: An Initial Pilot Survey in Six Countries and Validation Through a Site Visit

Purpose: Our purpose was to assess physics quality assurance (QA) practices in less resourced radiation therapy (RT) centers to improve quality of care. Methods and Materials: A preliminary study was conducted in 2020 of 13 select RT centers in 6 countries, and in 2021, our team conducted onsite visits to all the RT centers in Ghana, one of the countries from the initial survey. The RT centers included 1 private and 2 public institutions (denoted as Public-1 and Public-2). Follow-up surveys were sent to 17 medical physicists from the site visit. Questions centered on the topics of equipment, institutional practice, physics quality assurance, management, and safety practices. Qualitative and descriptive methods were used for data analysis. Questions regarding operational challenges (machine downtime, patient-related issues, power outages, and staffing) were asked on a 5-point Likert scale. Results: The preliminary survey from 2020 had a 92% response rate. One key result showed that for RT centers in lower gross national income per capita countries there was a direct correlation between QA needs and the gross national income per capita of the country. The needs identified included film/array detectors, independent dose calculation software, calibration of ion chambers, diodes, thermoluminiscence diodes (TLDs), phantoms for verification, Treatment Planning System (TPS) test phantoms, imaging test phantoms and film dosimeters, education, and training. For the post survey after the site visit in 2021, we received a 100% response rate. The private and the Public-1 institutions each have computed tomography simulators located in their RT center. The average daily patient external beam workload for each clinic on a linear accelerator was: private = 25, Public-1 = 55, Public-2 = 40. The Co-60 workload was: Public-1 = 45, Public-2 = 25 (there was no Co-60 at the private hospital). Public-1 and -2 lacked the equipment necessary to conform to best practices in Task Group reports (TG) 142 and 198. Public-2 reported significant operational challenges. Notably, Public-1 and -2 have peer review chart rounds, which are attended by clinical oncologists, medical physicists, physicians, and physics trainees. All 17 physicists who responded to the post site visit survey indicated they had a system of documenting, tracking, and trending patient-related safety incidents, but only 1 physicist reported using International Atomic Energy Agency Safety in Radiation Oncology. Conclusions: The preliminary study showed a direct correlation between QA needs and the development index of a country, and the follow-up survey examines operational and physics QA practices in the RT clinics in Ghana, one of the initial countries surveyed. This will form the basis of a planned continent-wide survey in Africa intended to spotlight QA practices in low- and middle-income countries, the challenges faced, and lessons learned to help understand the gaps and needs to support local physics QA and management programs. Audits during the site visit show education and training remain the most important needs in operating successful QA programs.

The State of Clinical Medical Physics and Education in Ghana

Physics audit of selected diagnostic X-Ray machines in Ghana: towards implementation of a national dosimetry audit programme

Medical physics audit of radiotherapy centres in Ghana

Medical Physics Innovations in Cancer Screening and Therapy within Ghana's Healthcare Framework

This study addresses a current research gap in Physics concerning Application of Medical Physics Techniques in Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment in Resource-Limited Settings in Ghana. The objective is to formulate a rigorous model, state verifiable assumptions, and derive results with direct analytical or practical implications. A structured analytical approach was used, integrating formal modelling with domain evidence. The results establish bounded error under perturbation, a convergent estimation process under stated assumptions, and a stable link between the proposed metric and observed outcomes. The findings provide a reproducible analytical basis for subsequent theoretical and applied extensions. Stakeholders should prioritise inclusive, locally grounded strategies and improve data transparency. Application of Medical Physics Techniques in Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment in Resource-Limited Settings, Ghana, Africa, Physics, conference paper This work contributes a formal specification, transparent assumptions, and mathematically interpretable claims. The empirical specification follows $Y=\beta_0+\beta^\top X+\varepsilon$, and inference is reported with uncertainty-aware statistical criteria.

Medical Physics Innovations in Cancer Screening and Therapy within Ghana's Healthcare Framework

This study addresses a current research gap in Physics concerning Application of Medical Physics Techniques in Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment in Resource-Limited Settings in Ghana. The objective is to formulate a rigorous model, state verifiable assumptions, and derive results with direct analytical or practical implications. A structured analytical approach was used, integrating formal modelling with domain evidence. The results establish bounded error under perturbation, a convergent estimation process under stated assumptions, and a stable link between the proposed metric and observed outcomes. The findings provide a reproducible analytical basis for subsequent theoretical and applied extensions. Stakeholders should prioritise inclusive, locally grounded strategies and improve data transparency. Application of Medical Physics Techniques in Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment in Resource-Limited Settings, Ghana, Africa, Physics, conference paper This work contributes a formal specification, transparent assumptions, and mathematically interpretable claims. The empirical specification follows $Y=\beta_0+\beta^\top X+\varepsilon$, and inference is reported with uncertainty-aware statistical criteria.