In this paper we describe a concept for dosimetric treatment plan verification using two-dimensional ionization chamber arrays. Two different versions of the 2D-ARRAY (PTW-Freiburg, Germany) will be presented, a matrix of 16 x 16 chambers (chamber cross section 8 mm x 8 mm; the distance between chamber centers, 16 mm) and a matrix of 27 x 27 chambers (chamber cross section 5 mm x 5 mm; the distance between chamber centers is 10 mm). The two-dimensional response function of a single chamber is experimentally determined by scanning it with a slit beam. For dosimetric plan verification, the expected two-dimensional distribution of the array signals is calculated via convolution of the planned dose distribution, obtained from the treatment planning system, with the two-dimensional response function of a single chamber. By comparing the measured two-dimensional distribution of the array signals with the expected one, a distribution of deviations is obtained that can be subjected to verification criteria, such as the gamma index criterion. As an example, this verification method is discussed for one sequence of an IMRT plan. The error detection capability is demonstrated in a case study. Both versions of two-dimensional ionization chamber arrays, together with the developed treatment plan verification strategy, have been found to provide a suitable and easy-to-handle quality assurance instrument for IMRT.

Permanent in vivo verification of IMRT photon beam profiles by a radiation detector with spatial resolution, positioned on the radiation entrance side of the patient, has not been clinically available so far. In this work we present the DAVID system, which is able to perform this quality assurance measurement while the patient is treated. The DAVID system is a flat, multi-wire transmission-type ionization chamber, placed in the accessory holder of the linear accelerator and constructed from translucent materials in order not to interfere with the light field. Each detection wire of the chamber is positioned exactly in the projection line of a MLC leaf pair, and the signal of each wire is proportional to the line integral of the ionization density along this wire. Thereby, each measurement channel essentially presents the line integral of the ionization density over the opening width of the associated leaf pair. The sum of all wire signals is a measure of the dose-area product of the transmitted photon beam and of the total radiant energy administered to the patient. After the dosimetric verification of an IMRT plan, the values measured by the DAVID system are stored as reference values. During daily treatment the signals are re-measured and compared to the reference values. A warning is output if there is a deviation beyond a threshold. The error detection capability is a leaf position error of less than 1 mm for an isocentric 1 cm x 1 cm field, and of 1 mm for an isocentric 20 cm x 20 cm field.

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