Guide for quality control and safety in clinical linear accelerators.

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiation Oncology
• Quality Assurance

Background:

• Quality control (QC) is crucial for the safe and effective operation of linear accelerators (linacs).
• Existing QC guidelines may lack flexibility or specific guidance for isocentric linacs.
• Integrating advanced methodologies like statistical process control (SPC) and risk analysis can enhance QC effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a non-prescriptive guide for designing quality control programs for isocentric linear accelerators.
• To incorporate statistical process control and risk analysis into linac quality control.
• To provide a flexible framework adaptable to specific clinical needs.

Main Methods:

• Development of a guide based on a survey of SEFM (Sociedad Española de Física Médica) members.
• Inclusion of proposals from scientific societies and manufacturer feedback.
• Consensus building within a dedicated working group.
• Presentation of recommended tests, fundamental and complementary parameters, and frequency/tolerance recommendations.

Main Results:

• A comprehensive guide for quality control program design in isocentric linear accelerators.
• Suggested fundamental and complementary parameters for QC testing.
• Recommendations for test frequency and tolerances based on representative accelerators.
• Emphasis on the adaptability of the guide to individual center requirements.

Conclusions:

• The developed guide offers a robust yet flexible approach to linac quality control.
• The integration of SPC and risk analysis enhances QC program design.
• The guide serves as a valuable reference for medical physicists, promoting consistent and effective quality assurance in radiation therapy.