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Dosimetric verification and quality assurance for intensity-modulated radiation therapy using Gafchromic® EBT3 film

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 November 2017

Khalid Iqbal ,
Muhammad Mazhar Iqbal ,
Muhammad Akram ,
Saima Altaf  and
Saeed Ahmad Buzdar
Khalid Iqbal*
Affiliation:
Department of Radiation Oncology, Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital & Research Center, Lahore, Pakistan Department of Physics, The Islamia University, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
Muhammad Mazhar Iqbal
Affiliation:
Nishtar Medical College Hospital, Multan, Pakistan
Muhammad Akram
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, The Islamia University, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
Saima Altaf
Affiliation:
Department of Radiation Oncology, Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital & Research Center, Lahore, Pakistan Department of Physics, The Islamia University, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
Saeed Ahmad Buzdar
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, The Islamia University, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
*
Correspondence to: Khalid Iqbal, Department of Radiation Oncology, Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital & Research Center, Lahore 54000, Pakistan. Tel: +924235905000. Fax: +924235945206. E-mail: Khalid_phy@yahoo.com
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Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to examine the dosimetric properties of Gafchromic® EBT3 film and intensity-modulated radiation therapy quality assurance (IMRT QA).

Materials and methods

Beams characteristics dosimetric properties and 20 IMRT plans were created and irradiated on Varian dual-energy DHX-S Linac for 6 and 15 MV energies. EBT3 films were analysed using ‘film Pro QA 2014’ software.

Results

The dosimetric comparison of EBT3 film (for red channel dosimetry) and ionisation ion chamber measurement showed that average deviations of symmetry, flatness, central axis, penumbra (left) and penumbra (right) of dose profile were 0·18, 1·34, 0·49%, 3·68 and 3·61 mm for 6 MV and 0·10, 1·3, 0·45, 2·65 and 2·71 mm for 15 MV, respectively. The blue and green channels dosimetry showed greater dose deviation as compared with red channel. IMRT QA verification plan complied about 95% at all different criteria. Reproducibility, stability and face orientation of film were within 1·4% for red channel.

Conclusions

The results advocate that the film can be used not only for dosimetric assessment but also as a reliable IMRT QA tool.

Keywords

dosimetryflatnessGafchromic EBT3IMRT QApenumbrasymmetry
Type
Original Articles
Information
Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice , Volume 17 , Issue 1 , March 2018 , pp. 85 - 95
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Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 2017 

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