Abstract
Beam scanning data collected on the tomotherapy linear accelerator using the TomoScanner water scanning system is primarily used to verify the golden beam profiles included in all Helical TomoTherapy treatment planning systems (TOMO TPSs). The user is not allowed to modify the beam profiles/parameters for beam modeling within the TOMO TPSs. The authors report the first feasibility study using the Blue Phantom Helix (BPH) as an alternative to the TomoScanner (TS) system. This work establishes a benchmark dataset using BPH for target commissioning and quality assurance (QA), and quantifies systematic uncertainties between TS and BPH. Reproducibility of scanning with BPH was tested by three experienced physicists taking five sets of measurements over a six‐month period. BPH provides several enhancements over TS, including a 3D scanning arm, which is able to acquire necessary beam‐data with one tank setup, a universal chamber mount, and the OmniPro software, which allows online data collection and analysis. Discrepancies between BPH and TS were estimated by acquiring datasets with each tank. In addition, data measured with BPH and TS was compared to the golden TOMO TPS beam data. The total systematic uncertainty, defined as the combination of scanning system and beam modeling uncertainties, was determined through numerical analysis and tabulated. OmniPro was used for all analysis to eliminate uncertainty due to different data processing algorithms. The setup reproducibility of BPH remained within 0.5 mm/0.5%. Comparing BPH, TS, and Golden TPS for PDDs beyond maximum depth, the total systematic uncertainties were within 1.4 mm/2.1%. Between BPH and TPS golden data, maximum differences in the field width and penumbra of in‐plane profiles were within 0.8 and 1.1 mm, respectively. Furthermore, in cross‐plane profiles, the field width differences increased at depth greater than 10 cm up to 2.5 mm, and maximum penumbra uncertainties were 5.6 mm and 4.6 mm from TS scanning system and TPS modeling, respectively. Use of BPH reduced measurement time by 1–2 hrs per session. The BPH has been assessed as an efficient, reproducible, and accurate scanning system capable of providing a reliable benchmark beam data. With this data, a physicist can utilize the BPH in a clinical setting with an understanding of the scan discrepancy that may be encountered while validating the TPS or during routine machine QA. Without the flexibility of modifying the TPS and without a golden beam dataset from the vendor or a TPS model generated from data collected with the BPH, this represents the best solution for current clinical use of the BPH.PACS number: 87.56.Fc
Highlights
Helical TomoTherapy (TOMO) (Accuray, Sunnyvale, CA) delivers intensity-modulated radiotherapy with a 6 MV linear accelerator mounted on a ring gantry
Binary multileaf collimators move in the longitudinal direction, modulating the field throughout treatment.(2) In addition to the distinct treatment geometry, beam modeling for the TOMO treatment planning system (TPS) is unique
While a typical TPS generates a machine model based on data measured by the user, the TOMO TPS is preloaded with a machine model, based on a standard golden beam dataset.(3,4) This model cannot be adjusted by the users
Summary
Helical TomoTherapy (TOMO) (Accuray, Sunnyvale, CA) delivers intensity-modulated radiotherapy with a 6 MV linear accelerator mounted on a ring gantry. Binary multileaf collimators move in the longitudinal direction, modulating the field throughout treatment.(2) In addition to the distinct treatment geometry, beam modeling for the TOMO treatment planning system (TPS) is unique. While a typical TPS generates a machine model based on data measured by the user, the TOMO TPS is preloaded with a machine model, based on a standard golden beam dataset.(3,4) This model cannot be adjusted by the users. It remains the users’ responsibility to verify that the factory “Standard” or “Golden” data accurately represents their specific machine. The TOMO treatment geometry makes beam data collection with a full-sized scanning system, designed for use with conventional linear accelerators, impossible
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