ABSTRACT
Objective The IAEA report No.483 describes the latest method of small field dosimetry.The field output factor measurement and correction methods are used to improve the accuracy and consistency of the measurement results for different type detectors.Methods The field output factors from 0.6 cm×0.6 cm to 10 cm× 10 cm were measured using IBA's CC13 ionization chamber,CC01 ionization chamber,PFD semiconductor detector,EFD semiconductor detector and Razor semiconductor detector,respectively.The field output correction factors were used to correct the measurement result.Results Compared with the corrected data,the results of ionization chamber are mainly affected by the volume averaging and the fluence perturbation effect,lead to the measurement result which is 4.70％ lower at 0.6 cm × 0.6 cm;The results of Shielded semiconductors are mainly affected by fluence perturbation effect,lead to the measurement result which is 4.80％ higher at 0.6 cm × 0.6 cm.The results of unshielded semiconductors are mainly affected by energy response and fluence perturbation effect,resulting in lower measurement results at the field size＞0.8 cm×0.8 cm,2.10％ lower at field size of 1.5 cm× 1.5 cm,higher measurement results at field size＜0.8 cm×0.8 cm and 1.1％ higher at field size of 0.6 cm×0.6 cm.Before the correction,the measurement results from different types of detectors are quite different,average standard deviation is 0.016 6.After the correction,the difference among the detectors is significantly reduced,average standard deviation is 0.006 6.Conclusions For detectors such as ionization chambers and semiconductors,the field output correction factors can be used to correct the output factors of the small field to improve the accuracy and consistency of the measurement results.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate muli-leaf collimator (MLC)-defined small field output factors calculated by the treatment planning system (TPS), and to study the measuring method of small field output factors verified by 0.015 cc PinPoint ionization chamber.Methods Eight medical accelerators for intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) were investigated in Henan province, and TPS-calculated output factors for various small fields (6 cm ×6 cm,4 cm ×4 cm,3 cm ×3 cm and 2 cm ×2 cm) were compared with published values recommended by IAEA.If the relative deviation was more than ± 3％ for the 2 cm ×2 cm field size and ±2％ for the fields of 6 cm ×6 cm, 4 cm ×4 cm and 3 cm ×3 cm, which was beyond the scope of IAEA allowed, the output factors will be measured and verified using 0.015 cc PinPoint ionization chamber and Unidos electrometer.Results TPS-calculated small field output factors for eight medical accelerators were compared with published values.The relative deviation of small field output factors for five pieces of equipment, which accounted for 62.5％ of the total, met the IAEA's requirement, while the other three, which accounted for 37.5％ of the total, did not.After measuring with PinPoint ionization chamber, the results from only three pieces of equipment met minimum IAEA's requirement.Conclusions MLC-defined small field output factors calculated by TPS for some medical accelerators in Henan need to be measured and corrected using micro-ionization chamber, and the measured values could be taken as the basis of radiation treatment planning.
ABSTRACT
Objective To develop the methods for using 0.015 cc pinpoint chambers, 0.007 cc miniature chambers and diode detector to measure Multi-leaf collimator (MLC) small field in IMRT.Methods MAX4000 and Unidos electrometers were connected with different types of small chambers and diode detectors.MLC shaped fields of10 cm×10 cm, 6 cm×6 cm, 4 cm×4 cm, 3 cm×3 cm, 2 cm× 2 cm were defined at 100 cm SSD.The field sizes for the Varian accelerator were defined by the tertiary MLC, while the secondary jaws were kept at 10 cm × 10 cm field, with the monitor units of 250 MU.Each field was measured three times to obtain the average value.The readings of all small fields were normalized to 10 cm × 10 cm field values for comparison of measured and published output factors.Results The relative deviations of the MLC small field output factors from the published outputs are 1.0％ , 1.7％ , 1.5％ and 2.4％, respectively, for Unidos electrometer connected with 0.015 cc pinpoint chamber;0.2％, 0.8％, 0.8％ and 1.4％, respectively, for Unidos electrometer connected with 0.007 cc miniature chamber;and 0.1％, 0.5％, 0.5％ and 0.9％, respectively, for MAX4000 electrometer connected with 0.007 cc miniature chamber.Conclusions The 0.015 cc chamber-measured MLC output factors for 3 cm × 3 cm and 2 cm × 2 cm fields are excellent.As required by IAEA, the relative deviations of the measured output factor from the published output factor are within ± 2％ for 2 cm × 2 cm fields and ± 3％ for larger fields.The results measured using 0.007 cc chamber are better than those measured using 0.015 cc chamber.The measured results using the diode detector, normalized to the 10 cm × 10 cm field, are consistent with the minimum requirements and excellent when being normalized to the 4 cm × 4 cm field.For dosimetric consideration, MLC small field output factor should be measured using small chamber and diode detector.The method is accurate and reliable, therefore, all measured output factors for MLC small fields should be input into radiation treatment plan system.
ABSTRACT
In electron therapy, low melting point alloy is used for shaping of the field. Electron field shaping material affect the output factor as well as the collimator system. The output factors of electron beams for shaped fields from NELAC-1018 were measured using ionization chamber of Farmer type in water phantom. The output factors of electron beams depend on the incident energy, inherent collimator system and the size of shaped field. Obtained results were followings. 1. In the smaller applicator, output varied extremely according to extent of collimator opening. 2. The higher energy, the output is less varied according to treatment field at small field.