Boost Dose

Field Length: 5

Description

Records the additional dose delivered to that part of the treatment volume encompassed by the boost fields or devices. The unit of measure is centiGray (cGy). It is an optional field and it is only required for data entry to ACoS flagged hospitals.

Rationale

To evaluate patterns of radiation oncology care, it is necessary to capture information describing the prescribed boost radiation dose. Outcomes are strongly related to the dose delivered.

Instructions for Coding

• • The International Council for Radiation (ICRP) recommends recording doses at the axis point where applicable (opposed fields, four field box, wedged pair, and so on). For maximum consistency in this data item, the ICRP recommendations should be followed whenever possible. Where there is no clear axis point, record the dose as indicated in the summary chart. Consult the radiation oncologist for the exact dose, if necessary.
  • Radiation boost treatment will typically be found in the radiation oncologist’s summary letter for the first course of treatment. Determination of the additional boost dose of radiation therapy may require assistance from the radiation oncologist for consistent coding.
  • Do not include the regional dose. In general, the boost dose will be calculated as the difference between the maximum prescribed dose and the regional dose. Many patients will not have a boost.
  • Code 88888 when brachytherapy or radioisotopes - codes 50-62 for Boost Treatment Modality - were administered to the patient.
  • Note that dose is still occasionally specified in "rads" One rad is equivalent to one centiGray (cGy).