Characterization of an Onboard Transmission Detector for Efficient Linear Accelerator Output Quality Assurance

Purpose To investigate the potential to perform linear accelerator output quality assurance (QA) with the ScandiDos Delta4 Discover (Discover) onboard transmission detector. Materials and methods Using the ScandiDos Delta4 software (version 8), a conversion factor from raw signal to output was obtained via cross-calibration with an accredited dosimetry calibration laboratory (ADCL) calibrated ionization chamber for each photon energy, including flattening-filter-free (FFF) energies. With the calibration factor for 6 MV (6x) photon energy, output measurements were taken with both the Delta4 Discover and ion chamber and compared for output as a function of gantry angle and dose-rate dependence. Monitor unit (MU) linearity for 6x was measured and compared with ion chamber measurements. Additionally, the Discover was used to take output measurements, for 6x, approximately every hour throughout the course of a treatment day, and compared with ion chamber output measurements at the beginning and end of the treatment day. Results Output measurements for each photon energy were comparable with a maximum difference of -0.57% for flattened beams (6x) and 0.21% for FFF beams (10FFF). Output measurements using the Discover matched ion chamber output measurements at every dose rate within 2%, and within 1% for output as a function of gantry angle. MU linearity test agreed with ion chamber measurements with a maximum difference of 0.41%. Output measurements using the Discover showed a daily drift in output throughout the course of a treatment day of around 2% and correlated very well with ion chamber outputs measured at the beginning and end of the treatment day (within 0.2%). Conclusions The ScandiDos Delta4 Discover onboard transmission detector is able to accurately measure linear accelerator output comparable to ion chamber measurements.