Quality Assurance for Small-Field VMAT SRS and Conventional-Field IMRT Using the Exradin W1 Scintillator

Abstract

Background: Plastic scintillator detector (PSD) Exradin W1 has shown promising performance in small field dosimetry due to its water equivalence and small sensitive volume. However, few studies reported its capability in measuring fields of conventional sizes. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to assess the performance of W1 in measuring point dose of both conventional IMRT plans and VMAT SRS plans. Methods: Forty-seven clinical plans (including 29 IMRT plans and 18 VMAT SRS plans with PTV volume less than 8 cm3) from our hospital were included in this study. W1 and Farmer-Type ionization chamber Exradin A19 were used in measuring IMRT plans, and W1 and microchamber Exradin A16 were used in measuring SRS plans. The agreement between the results of different types of detectors and TPS was evaluated. Results: For IMRT plans, the average differences between measurements and TPS in high-dose regions were 0.27% ± 1.66% and 0.90% ± 1.78% ( P = 0.056), and were −0.76% ± 1.47% and 0.37% ± 1.34% in low-dose regions ( P = 0.000), for W1 and A19, respectively. For VMAT SRS plans, the average differences between measurements and TPS were −0.19% ± 0.96% and −0.59% ± 1.49% for W1 and A16 with no statistical difference ( P = 0.231). Conclusion: W1 showed comparable performance with application-dedicated detectors in point dose measurements for both conventional IMRT and VMAT SRS techniques. It is a potential one-stop solution for general radiotherapy platforms that deliver both IMRT and SRS plans.

Feasibility of determining external beam radiotherapy dose using LuSy dosimeter

“…Klein and Briere 32 reported a 0.1% deviation for IMRT and a 0.7% deviation for VMAT. Huang and Qiao 33 used the commercial plastic scintillator dosimeter, Extradin W1, to measure IMRT and VMAT doses. They reported a 0.27% deviation between the measured and calculated dose for IMRT treatment and −0.19% for VMAT treatment.…”

Correction factors for commissioning and patient specific quality assurance of stereotactic fields in a Monte Carlo based treatment planning system

“…Following the evaluation of measured and calculated small static field doses, ionisation chamber measurements are commonly used, often in combination with film or diode arrays, during the validation of composite treatment plan deliveries. [9][10][11][12] This can be during end-to-end testing, often the final stage of commissioning, or during the Patient Specific Quality Assurance (PSQA) of clinical plans. SRS and SBRT plans inherently target small volumes using steep dose gradients and therefore require measurement using small sensitive volume ionisation chambers.…”

Correction factors for commissioning and patient specific quality assurance of stereotactic fields in a Monte Carlo based treatment planning system

“…3 Following the evaluation of measured and calculated small static field doses, ionisation chamber measurements are commonly used, often in combination with film or diode arrays, during the validation of composite treatment plan deliveries. [9][10][11][12] This can be during end-to-end testing, often the final stage of commissioning, or during the Patient Specific Quality Assurance (PSQA) of clinical plans. SRS and SBRT plans inherently target small volumes using steep dose gradients and therefore require measurement using small sensitive volume ionisation chambers.…”