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[A multileaf collimator: additional quality assurance in a GE linear accelerator].
K Hierholz1, W Baus, K Müller-Sievers
1Strahlentherapie und Radioonkologie, Klinikum Darmstadt. kd-strahlentherapie@t-online.de
Summary
Daily quality assurance for multileaf collimators (MLCs) is crucial due to their complexity. This study presents an effective method for verifying MLC leaf positioning accuracy, ensuring treatment system integrity with minimal extra workload.
Area of Science:
- Medical Physics
- Radiation Oncology
- Quality Assurance
Background:
- Multileaf collimators (MLCs) require extensive quality assurance (QA) due to their numerous leaves, unlike conventional collimators.
- Accurate leaf positioning is a critical aspect of MLC QA for ensuring treatment efficacy and patient safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a concept for daily quality assurance focused on the positioning accuracy of MLC leaves.
- To establish an effective and fast method for verifying the integrity of the entire MLC system.
Main Methods:
- Daily transmission of two leaf configurations (maximal opening and single leaf overtravel) from the record-and-verify system to the linear accelerator (linac).
- Visual inspection of leaf positioning accuracy using a specialized test phantom.
- Documentation and comparison of leaf positions via an electronic portal imaging system against a reference image with grid superposition.
Main Results:
- The presented QA method allows for rapid and effective verification of the entire MLC system's function.
- Simulating routine treatment conditions provides a reliable assessment of daily performance.
Conclusions:
- The proposed QA procedure for MLCs involves only a slightly increased workload compared to conventional collimators.
- This approach ensures the proper functioning of the MLC system, crucial for precise radiation delivery.