Field Length: 5

Description

Records the dominant or most clinically significant total dose of regional radiation therapy delivered to the patient during the first course of treatment. 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 regional radiation dose. Outcomes are strongly related to the dose delivered.

Instructions for Coding

• The International Council for Radiation Protection (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. Determining the exact dose may be highly subjective and require assistance from the radiation oncologist for consistent coding.

• Regional dose will typically be found in the radiation oncologist’s summary letter for the first course of treatment. Determination of the total dose of regional therapy may require assistance from the radiation oncologist for consistent coding.

• For photon treatment, dosage is reported in cGe units (Cobalt Grey Equivalent) rather than cGy. You must multiply cGe by 100 to get cGy.

• Do not include the boost dose, if one was administered.

• Code 88888 when brachytherapy or radioisotopes - codes 50-62 for Regional Treatment Modality - were administered to the patient.

• Note that dose is still occasionally specified in "rads." One rad is equivalent to one centigray (cGy).