Feasibility of linear diode array based small field data acquisition for 6 MV & 15 MV photon beams – An intercomparison with micro ion chamber

Evaluation of scanning resolution, detector choice and detector orientation to be used for accurate and time-efficient commissioning of a 6MV clinical linear accelerator

The present study is aimed at exploring different scanning parameters, detectors and their orientations for time-efficient and accurate commissioning of a 6 MV clinical linear accelerator (LINAC). Beam profiles and percentage depth dose (PDD) curves were measured with a PTW dosimetry diode, a PTW Semiflex and a PinPoint ion chamber in different orientations. To acquire beam data, equidistant (step size of 0.5 mm, 1 mm, 2 mm and 3 mm) and fanline (step size of 2-0.5 mm, 2-1 mm, 3-0.5 mm and 3-1 mm) scanning modes were employed and data measurement time was recorded. Scan time per measurement point was also varied (0.2 s, 0.5 s and 1.0 s) to investigate its effect on the accuracy and acquisition time of beam data. Accuracy of the measured data was analyzed on the basis of the variation between measured data and data modeled by a treatment planning system. Beam profiles (particularly in penumbra region) were found to be sensitive to variation in scanning resolution and showed an improved accuracy with decrease in step size, while PDD curves were affected negligibly. The accuracy of beam data obtained with the PTW dosimetry diode and the PinPoint ion chamber was higher than those obtained with the PTW Semiflex ion chamber for small fields (2 × 2 cm² and 3 × 3 cm²). However, the response of the PTW diode and the PinPoint ion chamber was significantly indifferent in these fields. Furthermore, axial orientation of the PTW Semiflex ion chamber improved accuracy of profiles and PDDs as compared to radial orientation, while such a difference was not significant for the PinPoint ion chamber. It is concluded that a scan time of 0.2 s/point with a fanline scanning resolution of 2-1 mm for beam profiles and 3 mm for PDDs are most favorable in terms of accuracy and time efficiency. For small fields (2 × 2 cm² and 3 × 3 cm²), a PinPoint ion chamber in radial orientation or a dosimetry diode in axial orientation are recommended for both beam profiles and PDDs. If a PinPoint ion chamber and a PTW dosimetry diode are not available, a Semiflex ion chamber in axial orientation may be used for small fields.

Feasibility study of using Stereotactic Field Diode for field output factors measurement and evaluating three new detectors for small field relative dosimetry of 6 and 10 MV photon beams

This study assesses the feasibility of using stereotactic field diode (SFD) as an alternate to gaf chromic films for field output factor (FF) measurement and further evaluating three new detectors for small field dosimetry. Varian 21EX linear accelerator was used to generate 6 and 10 MV beams of nominal square fields ranging from 0.5 × 0.5 cm² to 10 × 10 cm². One passive (EBT3 films) and five active detectors including IBA RAZOR diode(RD), SFD, RAZOR nanochamber (RNC), pinpoint chamber (PTW31023), and semiflex chamber (PTW31010) were employed. FFs were measured using films and SFD while beam profiles and percentage depth dose (PDD) distribution were acquired with active detectors. Polarity (k_pol) and recombination (k_s) effects of ion chambers were determined and corrected for output ratio measurement. Correction factors (CF) of RD, RNC, and PTW31023 in axial and radial orientation were also measured. Stereotactic field diode measured FFs have shown good agreement with films (with difference of <1%). RD and RNC measured beam profiles were within 3% deviation from the SFD values. Variation in k_pol with field size for RNC and PTW31023 was up to 4% and 0.4% (for fields ≥ 1 × 1 cm²), respectively, while variation in k_s of PTW31023 was <0.2 %. The maximum values of CF have been calculated to be 5.2%, 2.0%, 13.6%, and 25.5% for RD, RNC, PTW31023‐axial, and PTW31023‐radial respectively. This study concludes that SFD with appropriate CFs as given in TRS 483 may be used for measuring FFs as an alternate to EBT3 films. Whereas RD and RNC may be used for beam profile and PDD measurement in small fields. Considering the limit of usability of 2%, RNC may be used without CF for FF measurement in the smallfields investigated in this study.