Evaluation of International Atomic Energy Agency Technical Report Series-483 Detector-specific Output Correction Factor for Various Collimator Systems

Aim

In this study, a 6MV flattening filter (FF) and 6MV FF Free (FFF) photon beam small-field output factors (OF) were measured with various collimators using different detectors. The corrected OFs were compared with the treatment planning system (TPS) calculated OFs.

Materials and Methods

OF measurements were performed with four different types of collimators: Varian Millennium multi-leaf collimator (MLC), Elekta Agility MLC, Apex micro-MLC (mMLC) and a stereotactic cone. Ten detectors (four ionization chambers and six diodes) were used to perform the OF measurements at a depth of 10 cm with a source-to-surface distance of 90 cm. The corrected OF was calculated from the measurements. The corrected OFs were compared with existing TPS-generated OFs.

Results

The use of detector-specific output correction factor (OCF) in the PTW diode P detector reduced the OF uncertainty by <4.1% for 1 cm × 1 cm Sclin. The corrected OF was compared with TPS calculated OF; the maximum variation with the IBA CC01 chamber was 3.75%, 3.72%, 1.16%, and 0.90% for 5 mm stereotactic cone, 0.49 cm × 0.49 cm Apex mMLC, 1 cm × 1 cm Agility MLC, and 1 cm × 1 cm Millennium MLC, respectively.

Conclusion

The technical report series-483 protocol recommends that detector-specific OCF should be used to calculate the corrected OF from the measured OF. The implementation of OCF in the TPS commissioning will reduce the small-field OF variation by <3% for any type of detector.

Dosimetric characterization of a mobile accelerator dedicated for intraoperative radiation therapy: Monte Carlo simulations and experimental validation

PURPOSE

This Technical Note validates previously published data about the dosimetry of the electron beams produced by a mobile accelerator dedicated for intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT). The evaluation of the directional response of a PTW microDiamond detector is presented together with a detailed analysis of the output factors (OFs) for bevelled applicators.

METHODS

The OFs of the 6, 8, 10 and 12 MeV electron beams produced by a light intraoperative accelerator (LIAC, SIT, Italy) were measured in a commercial water phantom using the microDiamond. A set of flat and bevelled applicators with sizes ranging from 4 to 10 cm was characterized. For bevelled applicators, a correction for the angular dependence of the microDiamond was calculated using a home-made spherical phantom. Correction factors were obtained through measurements performed rotating the accelerator treatment head at 0°, 15°, 30° and 45°.

RESULTS

For flat applicators, the average deviation between measured and simulated OFs was (-1.1 ± 0.7)%. The microDiamond showed a higher angular dependence for the 6 MeV beam (∼8% for angles up to 45°, range 92 % ÷ 100 %), while the variations for 8, 10 and 12 MeV beams were ∼ 4 % (range 97 % ÷ 101 %). Correcting for this dependence, the average deviation of the OFs for bevelled applicators was (-0.9 ± 1.6)%.

CONCLUSIONS

The presented results were in very good agreement with those reported in literature. Very similar deviations were found between flat and bevelled applicators confirming the suitability of our method to determine the angular dependence correction factors of the microDiamond detector.

Feasibility of Isodose-shaped scintillation detectors for the measurement of gamma Knife® output factors

PURPOSE

Scintillation detectors were 3D printed based on a gamma knife (GK) dose distribution to calculate the volume averaging effect. The collimator output factors were measured using isodose-shaped scintillators (ISSs) and compared with those of a micro-diamond detector and previous reports.

METHODS

An absorbed dose distribution in a spherical dosimetry phantom with a radius of 8 cm was obtained from GK treatment planning software (Leksell GammaPlan (LGP), Elekta AB, Stockholm, Sweden). Two types of ISSs were fabricated to fit the 97.2% (ISS-1) and 95.6% (ISS-2) isodose surfaces. The volume averaging correction factors were obtained by dividing the absorbed dose to water in the central voxel (CV) by that in the ISS. The correction effect due to the difference between the ISS and water was calculated by Monte Carlo simulations. Ten ISS detectors, five of each type, were used to measure the output factors of the 4 and 8 mm collimators of a GK Icon^TM to assess system consistency. The output factors of seven GKs were measured using two ISS detectors, one of each type, and a PTW T60019 (PTW, Freiburg, Germany) micro-diamond detector.

RESULTS

The detector output ratios (DORs) measured using the five ISSs of each type were consistent, with standard uncertainties less than 0.2%. In the 4 mm field, the volume averaging correction factor ratios were 1.018 and 1.026, and the output factors after all corrections were 0.827 (0.006) and 0.825 (0.006) for ISS-1 and ISS-2, respectively. In the 8 mm field, the volume averaging correction factor ratios were 1.000 for both ISS types, and the output factors were 0.898 (0.003) and 0.900 (0.003) for ISS-1 and ISS-2, respectively. The ISS detectors could measure the output factors of a GK with uncertainties comparable to that of the PTW 60019 detector. The output factors of all detectors decreased with the dose rate.

CONCLUSION

The volume averaging effect of an ISS developed in-house could be calculated using known dose distributions. The collimator output factors of the GK Perfexion/Icon™ models measured using ISS detectors were consistent with those of a commercial synthetic micro-diamond detector and recent studies. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Characterization of ferrous-agarose-xylenol gel dosimeter at 60Co γ-rays beam therapy unit

Fricke gel dosimetry is a valuable technique used for recording 3D dose distribution in radiotherapy. Herein, we present the dosimetric characteristics of a synthesized ferrous-agarose-xylenol orange gel dosimeter in a clinical ⁶⁰Co beam. Experimental data were obtained using a secondary standards dosimetry laboratory ⁶⁰Co therapy unit. The dosimeter was calibrated using the ionization chamber as a reference, and its total mass attenuation coefficient, absorption spectrum, optical density-dose relationship, sensitivity, and dose rate dependency were evaluated. The potentiality of the ferrous-agarose-xylenol gel dosimeter was investigated to measure output factors for different field sizes. The gel dosimeter readings were measured using a spectrophotometer. The ferrous-agarose-xylenol gel dosimeter exhibited a linearity in the range of 3-15 Gy, indicating that the dosimeter is tissue-equivalent and dose rate-independent and yield reproducible results. The measured output factors and those published in the literature showed good agreement.

Comparison of dosimetric parameters of small-field electron beams between Advanced Markus, Semiflex 3D, and Diode E responses

The usage of dosimetry of small fields in radiotherapy to measure radiation dose is difficult because of high-dose gradients, lateral electronic disequilibrium, and detector volume effects. In this study, three dosimeters namely, Markus, Semiflex 3D, and Diode E were tested using the Elekta-accelerator electron beams. The electron beam parameters, penumbra, and output factor were determined using these dosimeters for each field size and energy. According to the results, Diode E and Advanced Markus exhibited the greatest difference in Rq among the electron beam parameters. Furthermore, the greatest difference in penumbra was observed between Diode E and Advanced Markus for the field size of 3 cm² at 10 MeV. In terms of output factor, three dosimeters exhibited the greatest difference between Diode E and Advanced Markus for the field size of 3 cm² at 10 MeV. The findings indicate that the Semiflex 3D can be regarded as an appropriate dosimeter for electron small-field dosimetry.

An MLC-based version for the ecliptic method for the determination of backscatter into the beam monitor chambers in photon beams of medical accelerators

A very simple method to measure the effect of the backscatter from secondary collimators into the beam monitor chambers in linear accelerators equipped with multi-leaf collimators (MLC) is presented here. The backscatter to the monitor chambers from the upper jaws of the secondary collimator was measured on three beam-matched linacs by means of three methods: this new methodology, the ecliptic method, and assessing the variation of the beam-on time per monitor unit with dose rate feedback disabled. This new methodology was used to assess the backscatter characteristics of asymmetric over-traveling jaws. Excellent agreement between the backscatter values measured using the new methodology introduced here and the ones obtained using the other two methods was established. The experimental values reported here differ by less than 1% from published data. The sensitivity of this novel technique allowed differences in backscatter due to the same opening of the jaws, when placed at different positions on the beam path, to be resolved. The introduction of the ecliptic method has made the determination of the backscatter to the monitor chambers an easy procedure. The method presented here for machines equipped with MLCs makes the determination of backscatter to the beam monitor chambers even easier, and suitable to characterize linacs equipped with over-traveling asymmetric secondary collimators. This experimental procedure could be simply implemented to fully characterize the backscatter output factor constituent when detailed dosimetric modeling of the machine's head is required. The methodology proved to be uncomplicated, accurate and suitable for clinical or experimental environments.

Parameterization of electron beam output factor

Electron beam dose distribution is dependent on the beam energy and complicated trajectory of particles. Recent treatment planning systems using Monte Carlo calculation algorithm provide accurate dose calculation. However, double check of monitor units (MUs) based on an independent algorithm is still required. In this study, we have demonstrated single equation that reproduces the measured relative output factor (ROF) that can be used for MU calculation for electron radiotherapy. Electron beams generated by an iX (Varian Medical Systems) and a PRIMUS (Siemens) accelerator were investigated. For various energies of electron beams, the ROF at respective dmax were measured using diode detector in a water phantom at SSD of 100 cm. Curve fitting was performed with an exponential generalized equation ROF = α(β - e(-γR)) including three variables (α, β, γ) as a function of field radius and electron energy. The correlation coefficients between the ROF measured and that calculated by the equation were greater than 0.998. For ROF of Varian electron beams, the average values of all fitting formulas were applied for two of the constants; α and β. The parameter γ showed good agreement with the quadratic approximation as a function of mean energy at surface (E0). The differences between measured and calculated ROF values were within ± 3% for beams with cutout radius of ≥ 1.5 cm for electron beams with energies from 6 MeV to 15 MeV. The proposed formula will be helpful for double-check of MUs, as it requires minimal efforts for MU calculation.