SU‐F‐18C‐10: Clinical Implementation of Radiochromic Film Based CTDI Measurements

Abstract

Purpose:To evaluate accuracy and reproducibility of a radiochromic film‐based protocol to measure computer tomography dose index (CTDI) as a part of annual QA on CT scanners and kV CBCT systems attached to linear accelerators.Methods:Energy dependence of Gafchromic XR‐QA2(R) film model was tested over imaging beam qualities (50 – 140 kVp). Film pieces were irradiated in air to known values of air kerma in air (up to 10 cGy). Change in film reflectance was determined with an in‐house written code using images produced by a flatbed document scanner. Calibration curves for each beam quality were created, and film responses for same air‐kerma values were compared.Sets of film strips were placed into holes of a CTDI phantom and irradiated for several clinical scanning protocols on CT‐simulators and CBCT systems. Film reflectance change was converted into dose to water and used to calculate CTDIvol values. Measured CTDIvol values were compared to tabulated CTDIvol values.Results:Average variations of ±5.2% in the mean film reflectance change were observed in the energy range of 80 to 140 keV, and 11.1% between 50 and 140 keV. The averaged measured CTDI values presented a mean variation for the same machine and protocol of 2.6%. However, measured CTDI values were in average 10% lower than tabulated CTDI values for CT‐simulators, and 44% higher for CBCT systems.Conclusion:We found that in relatively broad range of beam qualities used in diagnostic radiology variation of film response is within ±5% resulting in ±15% systematic error in dose estimates if a single calibration curve is used. Relatively large discrepancy between measured and tabulated CTDI values for different protocols and imaging systems used within radiotherapy department strongly support the trend towards replacing CTDI value with equilibrium dose measurement in the center of cylindrical phantom as suggested by TG‐111.This work was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Contract No. 386009; Partial support by CREATE, Medical Physics Research Training Network grant of the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council, Contract No. 432290.