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Selection of gamma analysis acceptance criteria in IMRT QA using Gafchromic EBT3 film dosimetry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 December 2018

Muhammad Isa Khan ,
Muhammad Shakil ,
Muhammad Bilal Tahir ,
Muhammad Rafique ,
Tahir Iqbal ,
Aliza Zahoor ,
Jalil ur Rehman ,
Khalid Iqbal  and
James C. L. Chow Open the ORCID record for James C. L. Chow [Opens in a new window]
Muhammad Isa Khan
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, University of Gujarat, Gujarat, Pakistan
Muhammad Shakil
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, University of Gujarat, Gujarat, Pakistan
Muhammad Bilal Tahir
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, University of Gujarat, Gujarat, Pakistan
Muhammad Rafique
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, University of Gujarat, Gujarat, Pakistan
Tahir Iqbal
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, University of Gujarat, Gujarat, Pakistan
Aliza Zahoor
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, University of Gujarat, Gujarat, Pakistan Department of Radiation Oncology, Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital and Research Center, Lahore, Pakistan
Jalil ur Rehman
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, BUITEMS, Quetta, Pakistan
Khalid Iqbal
Affiliation:
Department of Radiation Oncology, Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital and Research Center, Lahore, Pakistan
James C. L. Chow*
Affiliation:
Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Ontario, Canada Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
*
Author for correspondence: James Chow, Radiation Medicine Program, UHN, 700 University Avenue, ON, Toronto, Canada M5G 1Z5. Tel: 416 946 4501. Fax: 416 946 6566. E-mail: james.chow@rmp.uhn.ca
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Abstract

Background and purpose

This study reported the justification and selection of acceptable γ criteria with respect to low (6 MV) and high (15 MV) photon beams for intensity-modulated radiation therapy quality assurance (IMRT QA) using the Gafchromic external beam therapy 3 (EBT3) film.

Materials and methods

Five-field step-and-shoot IMRT was used to treat 16 brain IMRT patients using the dual-energy DHX-S linear accelerator (Varian Medical System, Palo Alto, CA, USA). Dose comparisons between computed values of the treatment planning system (TPS) and Gafchromic EBT3 film were evaluated based on γ analysis using the Film QA Pro software. The dose distribution was analysed with gamma area histograms (GAHs) generated using different γ criteria (3%/2 mm, 3%/3 mm and 5%/3 mm) for the 6 and 15 MV photon beams, to optimise the best distance-to-agreement (DTA) criteria with respect to the beam energy.

Results

From the comparison between the dose distributions acquired from the TPS and EBT3 film, a DTA criterion of 3%/2 mm showed less dose differences (DDs) with passing rates up to 93% for the 6 MV photon beams, while for the 15 MV a relaxed DTA criterion of 5%/3 mm was consistent with the DD acceptability criteria with a 95% passing rate.

Conclusions

Our results suggested that high-energy photon beams required relaxed DTA criteria for the brain IMRT QA, while low-energy photon beams showed better results even with tight DTA criteria.

Keywords

IMRTGafchromic EBT3 filmgamma analysisquality assurance
Type
Original Article
Information
Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice , Volume 18 , Issue 2 , June 2019 , pp. 127 - 131
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Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 2018 

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Footnotes

Cite this article: Isa Khan M, Shakil M, Tahir MB, Rafique M, Iqbal T, Zahoor A, Rehman Ju, Iqbal K, Chow JCL. (2019) Selection of gamma analysis acceptance criteria in IMRT QA using Gafchromic EBT3 film dosimetry. Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice18: 127–131. doi: 10.1017/S1460396918000602

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