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Use of a Linear Accelerator for Conducting In Vitro Radiobiology Experiments
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Evaluation of the Machine Performance Check application for TrueBeam Linac.
Alessandro Clivio1, Eugenio Vanetti2, Steven Rose3
1IOSI, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Medical Physics Unit, Bellinzona, 6504, Switzerland. alessandro.clivio@eoc.ch.
Radiation Oncology (London, England)
|April 22, 2015
Summary
Machine Performance Check (MPC) is a reliable application for verifying TrueBeam Linac geometry and beam performance. Preliminary tests show MPC offers fast, accurate, and easy-to-use automated checks for both geometric and dosimetric aspects.
Area of Science:
- Medical Physics
- Radiation Oncology
- Radiotherapy Equipment Quality Assurance
Background:
- Machine Performance Check (MPC) is an application designed to verify the geometry and beam performance of TrueBeam Linear Accelerators (Linacs).
- It utilizes automated checks leveraging kV-MV imaging systems for comprehensive verification.
- This study presents preliminary tests of MPC on a TrueBeam system, evaluating all photon beam energies and comparing results with independent external checks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the reliability and accuracy of the Machine Performance Check (MPC) application for TrueBeam Linacs.
- To compare MPC's geometric and dosimetric verification capabilities against established independent methods.
- To evaluate the efficiency and ease of use of MPC in routine quality assurance procedures.
Main Methods:
- Data acquisition involved 39 images (kV and MV detectors) with and without the IsoCal phantom and specific MLC settings.
- MPC performed geometric checks (isocenter size, imaging device coincidence, positioning accuracy) and dosimetric checks (beam output, uniformity, center change).
- Independent checks included routine mechanical tests, Winston-Lutz test for isocenter radius, and StarCheck (PTW) for dosimetric verification.
Main Results:
- Geometric checks with MPC showed treatment isocenter between 0.31 ± 0.01 mm and 0.42 ± 0.02 mm, comparable to Winston-Lutz (0.27 ± 0.01 mm).
- Coincidence of kV/MV imaging isocenters was within 0.36 ± 0.0 and 0.43 ± 0.06 mm (MPC) vs. 0.4 ± 0.1 mm (external).
- Dosimetric tests indicated output stability within 0.15 ± 0.07% (MPC) versus 0.3 ± 0.2% (independent).
Conclusions:
- Machine Performance Check (MPC) is a reliable method for verifying machine performance.
- MPC provides fast and easy-to-use automated checks for both geometric and dosimetric aspects.
- The application demonstrates significant potential for enhancing quality assurance in radiotherapy.
