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Published on: June 7, 2015
A practical method to detect target failure of a helical tomotherapy unit
S Stathakis1, A Gutierrez, C Esquivel
1Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. stathakis@uthscsa.edu
Summary
A new method uses monthly quality assurance (QA) data to detect helical tomotherapy x-ray target failures. A 1° difference in cross-plane profiles indicates the target needs replacement, improving QA.
Area of Science:
- Medical Physics
- Radiation Oncology
- Quality Assurance
Background:
- Helical tomotherapy is widely used in radiation therapy.
- X-ray target failure detection is a critical challenge in helical tomotherapy.
- Current data comparison methods are time-consuming and lack clinical physicist access.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a practical method for detecting potential x-ray target failure in helical tomotherapy units.
- To enable clinical medical physicists to easily assess target status.
Main Methods:
- A novel method was developed using monthly quality assurance (QA) procedures.
- Commissioning cross-plane profiles served as the baseline for comparison.
- EDR2 film was used to capture cross-plane profiles with specific build-up and backscattering materials.
Main Results:
- A 1° difference between monthly QA cross-plane profiles and commissioning profiles indicates target failure.
- This threshold provides a clear criterion for target replacement.
Conclusions:
- The proposed method allows for straightforward evaluation of helical tomotherapy x-ray target status.
- This approach enhances the overall quality assurance of helical tomotherapy units.
