6‐MV small field output factors: intra‐/intermachine comparison and implementation of TRS‐483 using various detectors and several linear accelerators

Applicability evaluation of the TRS-483 protocol for the determination of small-field output factors using different multi-leaf collimator and field-shaping types

PURPOSE

To evaluate the applicability of TRS-483 output correction factors (CFs) for small-field output factors (OFs) using different multi-leaf collimators (MLC) and field-shaping types.

METHODS

All measurements were performed on TrueBeam, TrueBeam STx, and Halcyon using 6 MV flattening filter-free energy. Four detectors, including CC01, CC04, microDiamond, and EDGE, were used. Nominal field sizes ranging from 1 × 1 to 4 × 4, and 10 × 10 cm2 were used to measure small-field OFs at source-to-axis distance of 100 cm with a 0° gantry angle in a 3D water phantom. Further, the field-shaping types were defined using jaw collimator or MLC (five different configurations). A field size of 10 × 10 cm2 was used as the reference for calculation of OFs obtained as ratio of detector readings (OFdet). The percentage difference and coefficient of variation of OFdet and OFdet corrected by applying CF were compared for each field size and configuration.

RESULTS

For OFdet corrected by applying CF, the ranges of percentage difference and coefficient of variation in all configurations for ≥ 2 × 2 cm2 fields were reduced from 1.2-2.2 to 0.8-1.3 percentage points (%pt) and from 0.5-1.0 to 0.4-0.7%, respectively. For 1 × 1 cm2 field, the ranges of percentage difference and coefficient of variation were reduced from 3.3-5.7 to 1.2-2.2 %pt and from 2.2-3.7 to 0.8-1.1%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The CFs described in TRS-483 dosimetry protocol have broad applicability in reducing OF variations between detectors under different MLC and field-shaping types.

Evaluation and Comparison of Dosimetric Characteristics of Semiflex®3D and Microdiamond in Relative Dosimetry under 6 and 15 MV Photon Beams in Small Fields

BACKGROUND

In modern radiotherapy techniques, the frequently small and non-uniformed fields can increase treatment efficiency due to their highly conformal dose distribution. Particular features including lack of Lateral Charge Particle Equilibrium (LCPE) lead to detectors with high resolution since any error in obtained dosimetric data could cause patient mistreatments.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to evaluate and compare two small detectors (Semiflex^®3D and microdiamond) dosimetric characteristics in small field relative dosimetry.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In this experimental study, the dosimetric properties of Semiflex^®3D and microdiamond were assessed under 6 and 15 MV photon beams. The linearity and stability of the detector's response and dose rate were measured. Square-field sizes ranging from 0.6×0.6 - 5×5 cm² were used for obtaining percentage depth dose curves (PDDs) and in-plane profiles. The angular and temperature dependence of both detectors' responses were also studied.

RESULTS

The detector response shows good stability, no deviation from linearity, and low dose rate dependence (≤1.6%). PDDs and in-plan profiles of both detectors are in good agreement and no significant difference was observed except for the high dose gradient regions (P-value≤0.017). Both detectors demonstrated low angular dependence (<0.3%) with temperature dependence lower than 1% for both detectors.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate both investigated detectors were well performed in small field relative dosimetry and for measuring penumbra, it is better to use microdiamond detector.

A multi-institutional evaluation of small field output factor determination following the recommendations of IAEA/AAPM TRS-483

Purpose

The aim of this work was to test the implementation of small field dosimetry following TRS‐483 and to develop quality assurance procedures for the experimental determination of small field output factors (SFOFs).

Materials and methods

Twelve different centers provided SFOFs determined with various detectors. Various linac models using the beam qualities 6 MV and 10 MV with flattening filter and without flattening filter were utilized to generate square fields down to a nominal field size of 0.5 cm × 0.5 cm. The detectors were positioned at 10 cm depth in water. Depending on the local situation, the source‐to‐surface distance was either set to 90 cm or 100 cm. The SFOFs were normalized to the output of the 10 cm × 10 cm field. The spread of SFOFs measured with different detectors was investigated for each individual linac beam quality and field size. Additionally, linac‐type specific SFOF curves were determined for each beam quality and the SFOFs determined using individual detectors were compared to these curves. Example uncertainty budgets were established for a solid state detector and a micro ionization chamber.

Results

The spread of SFOFs for each linac and field was below 5% for all field sizes. With the exception of one linac‐type, the SFOFs of all investigated detectors agreed within 10% with the respective linac‐type SFOF curve, indicating a potential inter‐detector and inter‐linac variability.

Conclusion

Quality assurance on the SFOF measurements can be done by investigation of the spread of SFOFs measured with multiple detectors and by comparison to linac‐type specific SFOFs. A follow‐up of a measurement session should be conducted if the spread of SFOFs is larger than 5%, 3%, and 2% for field sizes of 0.5 cm × 0.5 cm, 1 cm × 1 cm, and field sizes larger than 2 cm × 2 cm, respectively. Additionally, deviations of measured SFOFs to the linac‐type‐curves of more than 7%, 3%, and 2% for field sizes 0.5 cm × 0.5 cm, 1 cm × 1 cm, and field sizes larger than 1 cm × 1 cm, respectively, should be followed up.

Dose area product primary standards established by graphite calorimetry at the LNE-LNHB for small radiation fields in radiotherapy

PURPOSE

To present primary standards establishment in terms of Dose Area Product (DAP) for small field sizes.

METHODS

A large section graphite calorimeter and two plane-parallel ionization chambers were designed and built in-house. These chambers were calibrated in a 6MV FFF beam at the maximum dose rate of 1400 UM/min for fields defined by specifically designed circular collimators of 5, 7.5, 10, 13 and 15 mm diameter and jaws of 5, 7, 10, 13 and 15 mm side length on a Varian TrueBeam linac.

RESULTS

The two chambers show the same behaviour regardless of field shape and size. From 5 to 15 mm, calibration coefficients slightly increase with the field size with a magnitude of 1.8% and 1.1% respectively for the two chambers, and are independent of the field shape. This tendency was confirmed by Monte Carlo calculations. The average associated uncertainty of the calibration coefficients is around 0.6% at k=1.

CONCLUSIONS

For the first time, primary standards in terms of DAP were established by graphite calorimetry for an extended range of small field sizes. These promising results open the door for an alternative approach in small fields dosimetry.

Validity of equivalent square field concept in small field dosimetry

PURPOSE

The equivalent Square (ES) concept has been used for traditional radiation fields defined by the machine collimating system. For small fields, the concept S_clin was introduced based on measuring dosimetric field width (full-width half maximum, FWHM) of the cardinal axis of the beam profiles. The pros and cons of this concept are evaluated in small fields and compared with the traditional ES using area and perimeter (4A/P) method based on geometric field size settings e.g. light field settings.

METHODS

One hundred thirty-seven square and rectangular fields from 5-50 mm with every possible permutation (keeping one jaw fixed and varying other jaw from 5 mm to 50 mm) were utilized to measure FWHM for the validation of S_clin . Using a microSilicon detector and a scanning water tank, measurements were performed on an Elekta (Versa) machine with Agility head and a Varian TrueBeam with different MLC/Jaw design to evaluate the S_clin concept and to understand the effect of exchange factor in small fields. Field output factors were also measured for all 137 fields.

RESULTS

The data fitting for fields ranging from 5-50 mm between the traditional 4A/P method and S_clin shows differences and indicates a linear relationship with distinct separation of slope for Elekta and Varian machines. As Elekta does not have y jaws, the ES based on 4A/P < S_clin but for the Varian linac 4A/P > S_clin for square fields. Our measured data shows that both methods are equally valid but does vary by the machine design. The field output factor is dependent on the elongation factor as well as machine design. For fields with sides ≥10 mm, the exchange factor is nearly identical in both machines with magnitude up to 4% which is close to measurement uncertainty (±3%) but for small fields (<10 mm) the Elekta machine has higher exchange factors compared to the Varian machine.

CONCLUSION

The results demonstrate that the two concepts for defining equivalent field (S_clin and 4A/P) are equivalent and can be directly related through an empirical equation. This study confirms that 4A/P is still valid for small fields except for very small fields (≤10 mm) where source occlusion is a dominating factor. The S_clin method is potentially sensitive to measurement uncertainty due to measurement of FWHM which is machine, detector and user dependent, while the 4A/P method relies mainly on geometry of the machine and has less dependency on type of machine, detector and user. The exchange factors are comparable for both types of machines. The conclusion is based on data from an Elekta with Agility head and a Varian TrueBeam machine that may have potential for bias due to light field/collimator set up and alignment. Care should be taken in extrapolating these data to any other machine. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Consistency of small-field dosimetry, on and off axis, in beam-matched linacs used for stereotactic radiosurgery

PURPOSE

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) can be delivered with a standard linear accelerator (linac). At institutions having more than one linac, beam matching is common practice. In the literature, there are indications that machine central axis (CAX) matching for broad fields does not guarantee matching of small fields with side ≤2 cm. There is no indication on how matching for broad fields on axis translates to matching small fields off axis. These are of interest to multitarget single-isocenter (MTSI) SRS planning and the present work addresses that gap in the literature.

METHODS

We used 6 MV flattening filter free (FFF) beams from four Elekta VersaHD® linacs equipped with an Agility™ multileaf collimator (MLC). The linacs were strictly matched for broad fields on CAX. We compared output factors (OPFs) and effective field size, measured concurrently using a novel 2D solid-state dosimeter "Duo" with a spatial resolution of 0.2 mm, in square and rectangular static fields with sides from 0.5 to 2 cm, either on axis or away from it by 5 to 15 cm.

RESULTS

Among the four linacs, OPF for fields ≥1 × 1 cm2 ranged 1.3% on CAX, whereas off axis a maximum range of 1.9% was observed at 15 cm. A larger variability in OPF was noted for the 0.5 × 0.5 cm2 field, with a range of 5.9% on CAX, which improved to a maximum of 2.3% moving off axis. Two linacs showed greater consistency with a range of 1.4% on CAX and 2.2% at 15 cm off axis. Between linacs, the effective field size varied by <0.04 cm in most cases, both on and off axis. Tighter matching was observed for linacs with a similar focal spot position.

CONCLUSIONS

Verification of small-field consistency for matched linacs used for SRS is an important task for dosimetric validation. A significant benefit of concurrent measurement of field size and OPF allowed for a comprehensive assessment using a novel diode array. Our study showed the four linacs, strictly matched for broad fields on CAX, were still matched down to a field size of 1 x 1 cm2 on and off axis.

Field output factors for small fields: A large multicentre study

PURPOSE

The determination of output factors in small field dosimetry is a crucial point, especially when implementing stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT). Herein, a working group of the French medical physicist society (SFPM) was created to collect small field output factors. The objective was to gather and disseminate information on small field output factors based on different detectors for various clinical SRT equipment and measurement configurations.

METHOD

Participants were surveyed for information about their SRT equipment, including the type of linear particle accelerator (linac), collimator settings, measurement conditions for the output factors and the detectors used. Participants had to report both the ratio of detector readings and the correction factors applied as described in the IAEA TRS-483 code of practice for nominal field sizes smaller or equal to 3 cm. Mean field output factors and their associated standard deviations were calculated when data from at least 3 linacs were available.

RESULTS

23 centres were enrolled in the project. Standard deviations of the mean field output factors were systematically smaller than 1.5% for field sizes larger or equal to 1 cm and reached 5% for the smallest field size (0.5 cm). Deviations with published data were smaller than 2% except for the 0.5 cm circular fixed aperture collimator of the CyberKnife where it reached 3.5%.

CONCLUSION

These field output factor values obtained via a large multicentre study can be considered as an external cross verification for any radiotherapy centre starting a SRT program and should help minimize systematic errors when determining small field output factors.