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Sharma R, Sharma S, Agarwal P, Avasthi D, Verma R. Evaluating the impact of ionization chamber-specific beam quality correction factor in dosimetry of filtered and unfiltered photon beams. J Med Phys 2022; 47:159-165. [PMID: 36212211 PMCID: PMC9542991 DOI: 10.4103/jmp.jmp_101_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: The response of ionization chamber changes when used at beam quality Q which is different from beam quality Qo (usually 60Co) that was used at the time of its calibration. Hence, one needs to apply beam quality correction factor (kQ, Qo) during dosimetric measurements. However, kQ, Qo data are unavailable for novel ion chambers in the literature. Moreover, most of such data do not differentiate between filtered (flat) and unfiltered (unflat) beams. In addition, literature-based data do not differentiate among different pieces of the ion chambers of the same make and model. Hence, the purpose of our study was to determine the ion chamber-specific experimental values of kQ, Qo and to evaluate their impact in dosimetry. Materials and Methods: In this work, the value of kQ, Qo were measured for six ionization chambers of three different types in 6, 10, and 15 MV filtered (with flattening filter [WFF]) as well as 6 and 10 MV unfiltered (flattening filter free [FFF]) photon beams. The measured values of kQ, Qo were compared with Monte Carlo-calculated values available in the literature. The uncertainties in measurement of kQ, Qo values were also evaluated. Results: For 6 MV FFF beam, the measured value of kQ, Qo was found to be consistently lower than 6 MV WFF beam for all Sun Nuclear Corporation ion chambers, while it was higher as per the theoretical data. The inter-chamber variation in kQ, Qo values was observed for the same model of the ion chambers. The maximum difference between absolute dose values on using the theoretical and experimental kQ, Qo values was up to 3.23%. Conclusion: The measured absolute dose values by the ion chamber of a given make and model were found different due to the use of its theoretical and experimental kQ, Qo values. Furthermore, the variation in response of different pieces of ion chambers of the same make and model cannot be accounted for theoretically, and hence, the use of theoretical kQ, Qo data may introduce an inherent error in the estimation of absorbed dose to water. This necessitates the use of measured value of kQ, Qo for each ionization chamber.
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Kodama T, Yasui K, Nishioka S, Miyaura K, Takakura T, Katayose T, Nakamura M. Survey on utilization of flattening filter-free photon beams in Japan. JOURNAL OF RADIATION RESEARCH 2021; 62:726-734. [PMID: 34036361 PMCID: PMC8273795 DOI: 10.1093/jrr/rrab042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
To understand the current state of flattening filter-free (FFF) beam implementation in C-arm linear accelerators (LINAC) in Japan, the quality assurance (QA)/quality control (QC) 2018-2019 Committee of the Japan Society of Medical Physics (JSMP) conducted a 37-question survey, designed to investigate facility information and specifications regarding FFF beam adoption and usage. The survey comprised six sections: facility information, devices, clinical usage, standard calibration protocols, modeling for treatment planning (TPS) systems and commissioning and QA/QC. A web-based questionnaire was developed. Responses were collected between 18 June and 18 September 2019. Of the 846 institutions implementing external radiotherapy, 323 replied. Of these institutions, 92 had adopted FFF beams and 66 had treated patients using them. FFF beams were used in stereotactic radiation therapy (SRT) for almost all disease sites, especially for the lungs using 6 MV and liver using 10 MV in 51 and 32 institutions, respectively. The number of institutions using FFF beams for treatment increased yearly, from eight before 2015 to 60 in 2018. Farmer-type ionization chambers were used as the standard calibration protocol in 66 (72%) institutions. In 73 (80%) institutions, the beam-quality conversion factor for FFF beams was calculated from TPR20,10, via the same protocol used for beams with flattening filter (WFF). Commissioning, periodic QA and patient-specific QA for FFF beams also followed the procedures used for WFF beams. FFF beams were primarily used in high-volume centers for SRT. In most institutions, measurement and QA was conducted via the procedures used for WFF beams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takumi Kodama
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, 780 Ooazakomuro, Inamachi, Kitaadachi-gun, Saitama 362-0806, Japan
| | - Keisuke Yasui
- Faculty of Radiological Technology, School of Health Science, Fujita Health University, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, Aichi 470–1192, Japan
| | - Shie Nishioka
- Department of Medical Physics, National Cancer Center Hospital, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104–0045, Japan
| | - Kazunori Miyaura
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Showa University, 1-5-8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142–8666, Japan
| | - Toru Takakura
- Department of Radiation Therapy, Uji-Tokushukai Medical Center, 145 Ishibashi, Makichima-cho, Uji-shi, Kyoto 611–0041, Japan
| | - Tetsurou Katayose
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Chiba Cancer Center, 666-2 Nitona-cho, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260–8717, Japan
| | - Mitsuhiro Nakamura
- Department of Information Technology and Medical engineering, Human Health Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 53 Shogoin Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
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Mirzakhanian L, Bassalow R, Zaks D, Huntzinger C, Seuntjens J. IAEA-AAPM TRS-483-based reference dosimetry of the new RefleXion biology-guided radiotherapy (BgRT) machine. Med Phys 2021; 48:1884-1892. [PMID: 33296515 DOI: 10.1002/mp.14631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 10/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to provide data for the calibration of the recent RefleXion TM biology-guided radiotherapy (BgRT) machine (Hayward, CA, USA) following the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) TRS-483 code of practice (COP) (Palmans et al. International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, 2017) and (Mirzakhanian et al. Med Phys, 2020). METHODS In RefleXion BgRT machine, reference dosimetry was performed using two methodologies described in TRS-483 and (Mirzakhanian et al. Med Phys, 2020) In the first approach (Approach 1), the generic beam quality correction factor k Q A , Q 0 f A , f ref was calculated using an accurate Monte Carlo (MC) model of the beam and of six ionization chamber types. The k Q A , Q 0 f A , f ref is a beam quality factor that corrects N D , w , Q 0 f ref (absorbed dose to water calibration coefficient in a calibration beam quality Q 0 ) for the differences between the response of the chamber in the conventional reference calibration field f ref with beam quality Q 0 at the standards laboratory and the response of the chamber in the user's A field f A with beam quality Q A . Field A represents the reference calibration field that does not fulfill msr conditions. In the second approach (Approach 2), a square equivalent field size was determined for field A of 10 × 2 cm 2 and 10 × 3 cm 2 . Knowing the equivalent field size, the beam quality specifier for the hypothetical 10 × 10 cm 2 field size was derived. This was used to calculate the beam quality correction factor analytically for the six chamber types using the TRS-398. (Andreo et al. Int Atom Energy Agency 420, 2001) Here, TRS-398 was used instead of TRS-483 since the beam quality correction values for the chambers used in this study are not tabulated in TRS-483. The accuracy of Approach 2 is studied in comparison to Approach 1. RESULTS Among the chambers, the PTW 31010 had the largest k Q A , Q 0 f A , f ref correction due to the volume averaging effect. The smallest-volume chamber (IBA CC01) had the smallest correction followed by the other microchambers Exradin-A14 and -A14SL. The equivalent square fields sizes were found to be 3.6 cm and 4.8 cm for the 10 × 2 cm 2 and 10 × 3 cm 2 field sizes, respectively. The beam quality correction factors calculated using the two approaches were within 0.27% for all chambers except IBA CC01. The latter chamber has an electrode made of steel and the differences between the correction calculated using the two approaches was the largest, that is, 0.5%. CONCLUSIONS In this study, we provided the k Q A , Q 0 f A , f ref values as a function of the beam quality specifier at the RefleXion BgRT setup ( TPR 20 , 10 ( S ) and % d d ( 10 , S ) x ) for six chamber types. We suggest using the first approach for calibration of the RefleXion BgRT machine. However, if the MC correction is not available for a user's detector, the user can use the second approach for estimating the beam quality correction factor to sufficient accuracy (0.3%) provided the chamber electrode is not made of high Z material.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rostem Bassalow
- RefleXion Medical, 25841 Industrial Blvd, Hayward, California, 94545, USA
| | - Daniel Zaks
- RefleXion Medical, 25841 Industrial Blvd, Hayward, California, 94545, USA
| | - Calvin Huntzinger
- RefleXion Medical, 25841 Industrial Blvd, Hayward, California, 94545, USA
| | - Jan Seuntjens
- Medical Physics Unit, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, H4A 3J1, Canada
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Buchegger N, Grogan G, Hug B, Oliver C, Ebert M. CyberKnife reference dosimetry: An assessment of the impact of evolving recommendations on correction factors and measured dose. Med Phys 2020; 47:3573-3585. [DOI: 10.1002/mp.14190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Revised: 03/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Buchegger
- Department of Radiation Oncology Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Nedlands WA 6009 Australia
| | - Garry Grogan
- Department of Radiation Oncology Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Nedlands WA 6009 Australia
| | - Ben Hug
- 5D Clinics Claremont WA 6010 Australia
| | - Chris Oliver
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency Yallambie Vic. 3085 Australia
| | - Martin Ebert
- Department of Radiation Oncology Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Nedlands WA 6009 Australia
- 5D Clinics Claremont WA 6010 Australia
- Department of Physics University of Western Australia Crawley WA 6009 Australia
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Swanpalmer J. Reference dose determination in 60Co and high-energy radiotherapy photon beams by using Farmer-type cylindrical ionization chambers - an experimental investigation. Biomed Phys Eng Express 2020; 6:045003. [PMID: 33444264 DOI: 10.1088/2057-1976/ab8b25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Ionization chamber dosimetry is predominantly used for determination of the absorbed dose to water in 60Co and high-energy radiotherapy photon beams. The most widespread ionization chambers employed for absolute or reference dose determinations in reference conditions are the Farmer-type cylindrical ionization chambers. The Farmer-type ionization chambers have a variety of constructions and materials and their responses vary in the radiation beam. Clinical accelerators, in addition to conventional photon beams with flattening-filter, can also deliver flattening-filter-free (FFF) photon beams. The responses of five different Farmer-type cylindrical ionization chambers were experimentally examined with reference to absorbed dose determination in reference conditions when using the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) - American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Technical Reports Series no. 483 (TRS-483) and the IAEA TRS-398 dosimetry protocol in the present investigation. The irradiations were performed using 60Co and megavoltage photon beams with 6 MV, 15 MV, 6 MV FFF and 10 MV FFF nominal photon energies. The chamber calibrations were performed at different Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratories and are traceable to primary standards at different Primary Standard Dosimetry Laboratories. The chambers were also cross-calibrated at our laboratory using 60Co γ-beam. The variation found in the data regarding the reference dose determination using the various Farmer-type chambers in the photon beams employed was about 1% at maximum. Thus, the selection of the ionization chamber in reference dose determinations may affect the outcomes. The differences in the absorbed dose values were similar in the conventional as well as in the FFF photon beams. For the FFF photon beams the absorbed dose computations were performed using the IAEA-AAPM TRS-483 dosimetry protocol. Two of the ionization chambers used had identical construction but different central electrodes, i.e. graphite versus aluminium. The results obtained using these two chambers show that, in the photon beams examined, the employed correction for the central electrode (p cel ) regarding these two chambers is associated with an inaccuracy which is larger than the calculated uncertainty for this correction. The outcomes found in the present experimental investigation using the various ionization chambers also indicate possible inaccuracy in the employed beam quality correction factors (k Q ) and imply the need for a revision of these factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Swanpalmer
- Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Gothenburg, Sweden. Department of Radiation Physics, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
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Tanaka Y, Akino Y, Mizuno H, Isono M, Masai N, Yamamoto T. Impact of detector selections on inter-institutional variability of flattening filter-free beam data for TrueBeam™ linear accelerators. J Appl Clin Med Phys 2019; 21:36-42. [PMID: 31738002 PMCID: PMC6964765 DOI: 10.1002/acm2.12766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Revised: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
This study evaluates the type of detector influencing the inter-institutional variability in flattening filter-free (FFF) beam-specific parameters for TrueBeam™ linear accelerators (Varian Medical Systems,Palo Alto, CA, USA). Twenty-four beam data sets, including the percent depth dose (PDD), off-center ratio (OCR), and output factor (OPF) for modeling within the Eclipse (Varian Medical Systems) treatment planning system, were collected from 19 institutions. Although many institutions collected the data using CC13 (IBA Dosimetry, Schwarzenbruck, Germany) or PTW31010 semiflex (PTW Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany) ionization chambers, some institutions used diode detectors, diamond detectors, and ionization chambers with smaller cavities. The OCR data included penumbra width, full width at half maximum (FWHM), and FFF beam-specific parameters, including unflatness and slope. The data measured by CC13/PTW31010 ionization chambers were compared with those measured by all other detectors. PDD data demonstrated the variations within ±1% at the dose fall-off region deeper than peak depth. The penumbra widths of the OCR measured with the CC13/PTW31010 detectors were significantly larger than those measured with all other detectors (P < 0.05). Especially the EDGE detector (Sun Nuclear Corp., Melbourne, FL, USA) and the microDiamond detectors (model 60019; PTW Freiburg) demonstrated much smaller penumbra values compared to those of the CC13/PTW31010 detectors for the 30 × 30 mm2 field. There was no difference in the FWHM, unflatness, and slope parameters between the values for the CC13/PTW31010 detectors and all other detectors. OPF curves demonstrated small variations, and the relative difference from the mean value of each data point was almost within 1% for all field sizes. Although the penumbra region exhibited detector-dependent variations, all other parameters showed tiny interunit variations regardless of the detector type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshihiro Tanaka
- Department of Radiation Therapy, Japanese Red Cross Society Kyoto Daiichi Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yuichi Akino
- Oncology Center, Osaka University Hospital, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hirokazu Mizuno
- Department of Medical Physics and Engineering, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masaru Isono
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka, Japan
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Palmans H, Andreo P, Huq MS, Seuntjens J, Christaki KE, Meghzifene A. Dosimetry of small static fields used in external photon beam radiotherapy: Summary of TRS‐483, the IAEA–AAPM international Code of Practice for reference and relative dose determination. Med Phys 2018; 45:e1123-e1145. [DOI: 10.1002/mp.13208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2017] [Revised: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Palmans
- Medical Radiation Science National Physical Laboratory Teddington TW11 0LWUK
- Department of Medical Physics EBG MedAustron GmbH A‐2700Wiener Neustadt Austria
| | - Pedro Andreo
- Department of Medical Physics and Nuclear Medicine Karolinska University Hospital SE‐17176Stockholm Sweden
| | - M. Saiful Huq
- Department of Radiation Oncology University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Pittsburgh PA15232USA
| | - Jan Seuntjens
- Medical Physics Unit McGill University Montréal QCH3A 0G4Canada
| | - Karen E. Christaki
- Dosimetry and Medical Radiation Physics Section International Atomic Energy Agency A‐1400Vienna Austria
| | - Ahmed Meghzifene
- Dosimetry and Medical Radiation Physics Section International Atomic Energy Agency A‐1400Vienna Austria
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de Prez L, de Pooter J, Jansen B, Perik T, Wittkämper F. Comparison of k Q factors measured with a water calorimeter in flattening filter free (FFF) and conventional flattening filter (cFF) photon beams. Phys Med Biol 2018; 63:045023. [PMID: 29461974 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/aaaa93] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Recently flattening filter free (FFF) beams became available for application in modern radiotherapy. There are several advantages of FFF beams over conventional flattening filtered (cFF) beams, however differences in beam spectra at the point of interest in a phantom potentially affect the ion chamber response. Beams are also non-uniform over the length of a typical reference ion chamber and recombination is usually larger. Despite several studies describing FFF beam characteristics, only a limited number of studies investigated their effect on k Q factors. Some of those studies predicted significant discrepancies in k Q factors (0.4% up to 1.0%) if TPR20,10 based codes of practice (CoPs) were to be used. This study addresses the question to which extent k Q factors, based on a TPR20,10 CoP, can be applied in clinical reference dosimetry. It is the first study that compares k Q factors measured directly with an absorbed dose to water primary standard in FFF-cFF pairs of clinical photon beams. This was done with a transportable water calorimeter described elsewhere. The measurements corrected for recombination and beam radial non-uniformity were performed in FFF-cFF beam pairs at 6 MV and 10 MV of an Elekta Versa HD for a selection of three different Farmer-type ion chambers (eight serial numbers). The ratio of measured k Q factors of the FFF-cFF beam pairs were compared with the TPR20,10 CoPs of the NCS and IAEA and the %dd(10) x CoP of the AAPM. For the TPR20,10 based CoPs differences less than 0.23% were found in k Q factors between the corresponding FFF-cFF beams with standard uncertainties smaller than 0.35%, while for the %dd(10) x these differences were smaller than 0.46% and within the expanded uncertainty of the measurements. Based on the measurements made with the equipment described in this study the authors conclude that the k Q factors provided by the NCS-18 and IAEA TRS-398 codes of practice can be applied for flattening filter free beams without additional correction. However, existing codes of practice cannot be applied ignoring the significant volume averaging effect of the FFF beams over the ion chamber cavity. For this a corresponding volume averaging correction must be applied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leon de Prez
- VSL-Dutch Metrology Institute, Delft, Netherlands
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Malkov VN, Rogers DWO. Monte Carlo study of ionization chamber magnetic field correction factors as a function of angle and beam quality. Med Phys 2018; 45:908-925. [DOI: 10.1002/mp.12716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Revised: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 11/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Victor N. Malkov
- Carleton Laboratory for Radiotherapy Physics; Physics Dept; Carleton University; Ottawa ON Canada
| | - D. W. O. Rogers
- Carleton Laboratory for Radiotherapy Physics; Physics Dept; Carleton University; Ottawa ON Canada
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Lechner W, Kuess P, Georg D, Palmans H. Equivalent (uniform) square field sizes of flattening filter free photon beams. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 62:7694-7713. [DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/aa83f5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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Czarnecki D, Poppe B, Zink K. Monte Carlo-based investigations on the impact of removing the flattening filter on beam quality specifiers for photon beam dosimetry. Med Phys 2017; 44:2569-2580. [DOI: 10.1002/mp.12252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2016] [Revised: 03/13/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Damian Czarnecki
- Institute of Medical Physics and Radiation Protection; University of Applied Sciences Giessen; Wiesenstrasse 14 Giessen D-35390 Germany
- University Clinic for Medical Radiation Physics; Medical Campus Pius Hospital; Carl von Ossietzky University; Oldenburg Germany
| | - Björn Poppe
- University Clinic for Medical Radiation Physics; Medical Campus Pius Hospital; Carl von Ossietzky University; Oldenburg Germany
| | - Klemens Zink
- Institute of Medical Physics and Radiation Protection; University of Applied Sciences Giessen; Giessen D-35390 Germany
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology; University Medical Center Giessen and Marburg; Marburg D-35043 Germany
- Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies (FIAS); Ruth-Moufang-Straße 1; 60438 Frankfurt am Main Germany
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Kuess P, Georg D, Palmans H, Lechner W. Technical Note: On the impact of the incident electron beam energy on the primary dose component of flattening filter free photon beams. Med Phys 2016; 43:4507. [PMID: 27487867 DOI: 10.1118/1.4954849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE For commercially available linear accelerators (Linacs), the electron energies of flattening filter free (FFF) and flattened (FF) beams are either identical or the electron energy of the FFF beam is increased to match the percentage depth dose curve (PDD) of the FF beam (in reference geometry). This study focuses on the primary dose components of FFF beams for both kinds of settings, studied on the same Linac. METHODS The measurements were conducted on a VersaHD Linac (Elekta, Crawley, UK) for both FF and FFF beams with nominal energies of 6 and 10 MV. In the clinical setting of the VersaHD, the energy of FFFM (Matched) beams is set to match the PDDs of the FF beams. In contrast the incident electron beam of the FFFU beam was set to the same energy as for the FF beam. Half value layers (HVLs) and a dual parameter beam quality specifier (DPBQS) were determined. RESULTS For the 6 MV FFFM beam, HVL and DPBQS values were very similar compared to those of the 6 MV FF beam, while for the 10 MV FFFM and FF beams, only %dd(10)x and HVL values were comparable (differences below 1.5%). This shows that matching the PDD at one depth does not guarantee other beam quality dependent parameters to be matched. For FFFU beams, all investigated beam quality specifiers were significantly different compared to those for FF beams of the same nominal accelerator potential. The DPBQS of the 6 MV FF and FFFM beams was equal within the measurement uncertainty and was comparable to published data of a machine with similar TPR20,10 and %dd(10)x. In contrast to that, the DPBQS's two parameters of the 10 MV FFFM beam were substantially higher compared to those for the 10 MV FF beam. CONCLUSIONS PDD-matched FF and FFF beams of both nominal accelerator potentials were observed to have similar HVL values, indicating similarity of their primary dose components. Using the DPBQS revealed that the mean attenuation coefficient was found to be the same within the uncertainty of 0.8% for 6 MV FF and 6 MV FFFM beams, while for 10 MV beams, they differed by 6.4%. This shows that the DPBQS can provide a differentiation of photon beam characteristics that would remain hidden by the use of a single beam quality specifier, such as %dd(10)x or HVL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Kuess
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Division Medical Physics, Medical University Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria and Christian Doppler Laboratory for Medical Radiation Research for Radiation Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Dietmar Georg
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Division Medical Physics, Medical University Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria and Christian Doppler Laboratory for Medical Radiation Research for Radiation Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Hugo Palmans
- EBG MedAustron GmbH, Wiener Neustadt 2700, Austria and National Physical Laboratory, Teddington TW 11 0LW, United Kingdom
| | - Wolfgang Lechner
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Division Medical Physics, Medical University Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria and Christian Doppler Laboratory for Medical Radiation Research for Radiation Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria
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Ruggieri R, Naccarato S, Stavrev P, Stavreva N, Pasetto S, Salamone I, Alongi F. Technical Note: Correction for intra-chamber dose gradients in reference dosimetry of flattening-filter-free MV photon beams. Med Phys 2016; 43:4729. [DOI: 10.1118/1.4958960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
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Lye JE, Butler DJ, Oliver CP, Alves A, Lehmann J, Gibbons FP, Williams IM. Comparison between the TRS-398 code of practice and the TG-51 dosimetry protocol for flattening filter free beams. Phys Med Biol 2016; 61:N362-72. [DOI: 10.1088/0031-9155/61/14/n362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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15
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de Prez L, de Pooter J, Jansen B, Aalbers T. A water calorimeter for on-site absorbed dose to water calibrations in60Co and MV-photon beams including MRI incorporated treatment equipment. Phys Med Biol 2016; 61:5051-76. [DOI: 10.1088/0031-9155/61/13/5051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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A comparison between direct TMR measurements and TMRs calculated from PDDs using BJR Supplement 25 data for flattened and unflattened photon beams. AUSTRALASIAN PHYSICAL & ENGINEERING SCIENCES IN MEDICINE 2015; 38:503-7. [DOI: 10.1007/s13246-015-0359-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2015] [Accepted: 06/23/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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