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World J Clin Oncol. Apr 24, 2026; 17(4): 115851
Published online Apr 24, 2026. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v17.i4.115851
Published online Apr 24, 2026. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v17.i4.115851
Use of statistical process control to study the patient-specific quality assurance in head and neck cancer
Pratibha Singh, Manoj Kumar Singh, Department of Physics, Institute of Applied Sciences and Humanities, GLA University, Mathura 281406, Uttar Pradesh, India
Pratibha Singh, Department of Radiation Oncology, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Jaipur 302022, Rājasthān, India
Atul Mishra, Department of Radiation Oncology, Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences, Etawah 206130, Uttar Pradesh, India
Author contributions: Singh P performed the research study, research analyses, collected the data, wrote the manuscript, and analyzed the data; Mishra A contributed to the editorial changes in the manuscript; Singh MK read and approved the final manuscript; Singh P, Singh MK, and Mishra A approved the final manuscript.
Institutional review board statement: Since this is a retrospective study involving previously treated patients, ethical approval was exempted by the institute.
Informed consent statement: This is a retrospective study involving previously treated patients; ethical approval was exempted by the institute, and individual written informed consent was not required.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Data sharing statement: There is no additional data available.
Corresponding author: Atul Mishra, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences, Saifai, Etawah 206130, Uttar Pradesh, India. meetatulmishra@gmail.com
Received: October 27, 2025
Revised: December 10, 2025
Accepted: February 6, 2026
Published online: April 24, 2026
Processing time: 176 Days and 15.3 Hours
Revised: December 10, 2025
Accepted: February 6, 2026
Published online: April 24, 2026
Processing time: 176 Days and 15.3 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: This study shows that using gamma index-based patient-specific quality assurance, along with statistical process control, works well for head and neck radiotherapy. Long-term trends in dose delivery accuracy were tracked using Individual-Moving Range and Exponentially Weighted Moving Average charts, based on several global gamma index criteria. Even though stricter thresholds made it harder to pass, the quality assurance process stayed statistically stable, and statistical process control made it easier to find small differences sooner. This method helps make tolerance and action limits more reliable and makes treatment delivery more consistent overall.