A quality assurance phantom for three-dimensional radiation treatment planning

Three-dimensional (3D) radiation treatment planning is facilitated through the use of computerized radiation treatment planning systems (RTPSs) and CT simulators (CT-sims). Quality assurance (QA) of these systems is necessary for ensuring that they fulfill their potential. However, comprehensive tools for the systematic QA of these systems have not been developed. We present a phantom that facilitates the evaluation of a large number of nondosimetric functions. These include CT image acquisition and transfer, graphical displays of 3D radiation beams, multiplanar CT image reconstructions, digitally reconstructed radiographs, the representation and manipulation of contoured patient anatomy, dose volume histograms, and the conversion of CT numbers to relative electron densities.

A phantom was constructed which contains materials and geometries that are appropriate for the routine QA of the features described above. The anatomy of the phantom is used as a standard against which the performance of the 3D-RTPS or CT-sim is evaluated. The phantom was used to evaluate three different 3D-RTPSs and a CT-sim at four institutions.

Using this phantom, clinically significant errors and limitations in commercially available 3D treatment planning software were discovered. No errors were discovered in the beam display or image reconstructions in the systems examined. Problems were found in the anatomy display, automatic tools, and the CT number to relative electron density conversion data used in some of the systems.

This phantom is a unique tool designed explicitly for the QA of 3D treatment planning software. Errors and limitations discovered through its use indicate that the QA of commercial treatment planning software is necessary, and that this phantom is an effective device for this task.