Quality assurance: Fundamental reproducibility tests for 3D treatment‐planning systems

Abstract

The use of image‐based 3D treatment planning has significantly increased the complexity of commercially available treatment‐planning systems (TPSs). Medical physicists have traditionally focused their efforts on understanding the calculation algorithm; this is no longer possible. A quality assurance (QA) program for our 3D treatment‐planning system (ADAC Pinnacle3) is presented. The program is consistent with the American Association of Physicists in Medicine Task Group 53 guidelines and balances the cost‐versus‐benefit equation confronted by the clinical physicist in a community cancer center environment. Fundamental reproducibility tests are presented as required for a community cancer center environment using conventional and 3D treatment planning. A series of nondosimetric tests, including digitizer accuracy, image acquisition and display, and hardcopy output, is presented. Dosimetric tests include verification of monitor units (MUs), standard isodoses, and clinical cases. The tests are outlined for the Pinnacle3 TPS but can be generalized to any TPS currently in use. The program tested accuracy and constancy through several hardware and software upgrades to our TPS. This paper gives valuable guidance and insight to other physicists attempting to approach TPS QA at fundamental and practical levels.PACS numbers: 87.53.Tf, 87.53.Xd

Insights to Achieve More Accuracy for the Conventional Treatment Planning Systems

“…Percentage depth dose was measured along the central axis of the tested open square field sizes (4x4, 5x5 cm 2 small field coded 1-6, 10x10 cm 2 medium field coded 7-12 and 25x25 cm 2 large field coded [13][14][15][16][17][18] for depths from 0 to 40 cm.…”

“…In this test, the relative output factor (S c,p ), as defined by Khan, and Gibbons (2014) [48], were measured for wide range of open square field sizes with dimensions of (4,5,6,8,10,12,14,16,18,20,22,24,26,28,30 and 32 cm 2 ) at reference depth = 10 cm.…”

“…Many authors studied the performance evaluation of the accuracy of the treatment planning system for external photon beams [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29]. Also, many organizations had published quality assurance protocols and reports handling the radiation treatment planning dosimetry verification [30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39].…”

Application of a 3D volumetric display for radiation therapy treatment planning I: quality assurance procedures

“…Some of them apply holographic techniques; others adopt stereoscopic methods. (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9) The Perspecta System (Actuality Systems, Bedford, MA) is the first system that integrates volumetric 3D visualization with treatment planning to form a complete 3D planning system. The innovative volumetric display works by projecting a sequence of 2D patterns, or slices, onto a swiftly rotating omnidirectional diffuser screen in an enclosed Lexan dome.…”

Verificação 3D da distribuição da dose em radiocirurgia estereotáxica através de simulação Monte Carlo e dosimetria por ressonância magnética nuclear

“…Com o decorrer dos anos, o desenvolvimento da tecnologia proporcionou que se pudessem obter imagens por tomografia computarizada, melhorando, assim, a delimitação dos volumes do tratamento. Os sistemas de planejamento computadorizados incluem softwares e hardwares que possibilitam o uso de imagens anatômicas tridimensionais dos pacientes para realização do planejamento radioterápico, permitindo correções de heterogeneidades e cálculos de dose e distribuições de dose em três dimensões com maior rapidez e precisão(Podgorsak et al, 2005; IAEA, 2004) Camaro et al, 2007;Able et al, 2005;Mijnheer, 2004)…”