Abstract:We performed 858 two-dimensional (2D) patient-specific intensity modulated radiotherapy verifications over a period of 18 months. Multifield, composite treatment plans were measured in phantom using calibrated Kodak EDR2 film and compared with the calculated dose extracted from two treatment planning systems. This research summarizes our findings using the normalized agreement test (NAT) index and the percent of pixels failing the gamma index as metrics to represent the agreement between measured and computed … Show more
“…The view was consistent with Childress et al [17] . Whereas, both the percent of pixels passing γ and the NAT index altered evidently with different criteria as shown in table 1.…”
In order to explore a dose distribution verification procedure of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and establish its evaluation criteria, we performed 35 two-dimensional (2D) patient-specific IMRT verifications over the year 2006. The percent of pixels passing gamma and the normalized agreement test (NAT) index were mainly used to represent the agreement between the measured and computed dose distributions with three criteria (2%/2 mm, 3%/3 mm and 5%/3 mm) as recommended in the literature. The results were that all cases passed through verifications with three criteria except that the NAT index of one case was beyond the limitation, and the three tolerance levels of 2%/2 mm, 3%/3 mm and 5%/3 mm produced similar clinical verification results but led to different percent of pixels passing gamma and NAT index. Our data showed that the percent of pixels passing gamma and the NAT index were complementary to evaluate future IMRT verifications as two significant metrics. Due to the influence of the noise and the trait of the software, we considered an IMRT plan as acceptable in case of the percent of pixels passing gamma >95% and the NAT index <5 with the 5%/3 mm criteria for IMRT patient-specific quality assurance (QA).
“…The view was consistent with Childress et al [17] . Whereas, both the percent of pixels passing γ and the NAT index altered evidently with different criteria as shown in table 1.…”
In order to explore a dose distribution verification procedure of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and establish its evaluation criteria, we performed 35 two-dimensional (2D) patient-specific IMRT verifications over the year 2006. The percent of pixels passing gamma and the normalized agreement test (NAT) index were mainly used to represent the agreement between the measured and computed dose distributions with three criteria (2%/2 mm, 3%/3 mm and 5%/3 mm) as recommended in the literature. The results were that all cases passed through verifications with three criteria except that the NAT index of one case was beyond the limitation, and the three tolerance levels of 2%/2 mm, 3%/3 mm and 5%/3 mm produced similar clinical verification results but led to different percent of pixels passing gamma and NAT index. Our data showed that the percent of pixels passing gamma and the NAT index were complementary to evaluate future IMRT verifications as two significant metrics. Due to the influence of the noise and the trait of the software, we considered an IMRT plan as acceptable in case of the percent of pixels passing gamma >95% and the NAT index <5 with the 5%/3 mm criteria for IMRT patient-specific quality assurance (QA).
“…The complexity of IMRT demands accurate quality assurance before the treatment delivery. Film dosimetry for pre-treatment verification of patient-specific IMRT dose distribution is the gold standard due to its high resolution [1][2][3][4]. But the dose response of film is affected by processing conditions hence films are gradually being replaced by twodimensional (2D) detector arrays due to their ease of use and instant results.…”
“…A lot of research and a vast number of publications exist on the subject of IMRT QA [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. IMRT is now also becoming standard practice in smaller, non-academic centres.…”
ABSTRACT. The purpose of this work is to provide guidelines for the routine use of portal dosimetry and in vivo diode measurements to verify intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) treatments. To achieve tolerance levels that are sensitive enough to intercept problems, both the portal dosimetry and the in vivo procedure must be optimised. Portal dosimetry was improved by the introduction of an optimised twodimensional (2D) profile correction, which also accounted for the effect of backscatter from the R-arm. The scaled score, indicating the fraction of points not meeting the desired gamma evaluation criteria within the field opening, was determined as the parameter of interest. Using gamma criteria of a 3% dose difference and 3 mm distance to agreement, a ''scaled score'' threshold value of 1.5% was chosen to indicate excessive tongue and groove and other problems. The pre-treatment portal dosimetry quality assurance (QA) does not encompass verification of the patient dose calculation or position, and so it is complemented by in vivo diode measurements. Diode positioning is crucial in IMRT, and so we describe a method for diode positioning at any suitable point. We achieved 95% of IMRT field measurements within ¡5% and 99% within ¡8%, with improved accuracy being achieved over time owing to better positioning. Although the careful preparation and setup of the diode measurements can be time-consuming, this is compensated for by the time efficiency of the optimised procedure. Both methods are now easily absorbed into the routine work of the department. In many radiotherapy departments, routine treatment verification for conventional static treatment fields is performed during the first treatment session. This verification often consists of in vivo measurements with diodes (mostly on the beam axis) in combination with portal imaging of the treatment-field shapes superimposed on the patient's anatomy. Before the first treatment session, the treatment parameters are carefully reviewed by a qualified person and independent monitor unit (MU) calculations may be performed as an additional check.For dynamic intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) fields, a more extensive quality assurance (QA) protocol is considered to be good practice, the reasons for this being at least fourfold:(1) Both delivery and dose calculations are considerably more complex for dynamic IMRT fields than for conventional static fields.(2) Conventional portal imaging of the treatment fields provides images that are difficult to interpret because the modulated fluence is superimposed on the patient's anatomy.(3) Because of the presence of many dose gradients within the IMRT fields, conventional in vivo dosimetry on the beam axis is prone to large deviations, or can be meaningless when little dose is delivered on the beam axis.(4) Dosimetric treatment parameters, such as MU and multileaf collimator (MLC) shape (or movement pattern), depend on the individual patient plan and can vary substantially among patients as a function of the modulation. Hence,...
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