Novel methodologies for dosimetry audits: Adapting to advanced radiotherapy techniques

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiation Oncology
• Radiotherapy Technology

Background:

• Modern radiotherapy delivery is increasingly complex, necessitating rigorous dosimetry audits.
• Ensuring best practices and patient safety in advanced radiotherapy requires validation of treatment delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review novel methodologies for dosimetry audits in advanced radiotherapy techniques.
• To discuss recent developments and future techniques for dosimetry audits.
• To evaluate the applicability of new audit methods for various radiotherapy units.

Main Methods:

• Review of phantom-based dosimetry audit methods (e.g., phantom-detector combinations).
• Discussion of phantom-less dosimetry audit methods (e.g., portal dosimetry, transmission detectors, log files).
• Examination of methodologies for conventional linear accelerators (linacs), Tomotherapy, stereotactic devices, and MR-linacs.

Main Results:

• Novel techniques like portal dosimetry and log file evaluation offer potential for parallel auditing and automation.
• These advanced methods can analyze multiple steps in the radiotherapy treatment chain.
• Significant reduction in audit time and increased information gain are potential benefits.

Conclusions:

• New dosimetry audit techniques can enhance efficiency and data acquisition in radiotherapy.
• Further development and harmonization of these novel methodologies are crucial for widespread clinical application.
• These advancements are essential for ensuring the safety and efficacy of complex radiotherapy treatments.