Program Information
Valencia Applicator Commissioning Using a Micro-Chamber Array
V Carmona-Meseguer1*, T Garcia-Martinez2, R Palomo-Llinares1, C Candela-Juan1, J Richart-Sancho3, J Gimeno-Olmos1, F Lliso-Valverde1, D Granero4, F Ballester5, J Perez-Calatayud1,3, (1) Hospital La Fe, Valencia, (2) Hospital de La Ribera, Alzira, Valencia, (3) Clinica Benidorm, Benidorm, Alicante, (4) ERESA-Hospital General Universitario, Mislata, Valencia, (5) University of Valencia, Burjassot, Valencia
Presentations
SU-E-T-343 Sunday 3:00PM - 6:00PM Room: Exhibit HallPurpose: In the commissioning and QA of surface isotope-based applicators, source-indexer distance (SID) has a great influence in the flatness, symmetry and output. To these purposes, methods described in the literature are the use of a special insert at the entrance of dwell chamber or radiochromic films. Here we present the experience with a micro-chamber array to perform the commissioning and QA of Valencia applicators.
Methods: Valencia applicators have been used, the classic and the new extra-shielded version. A micro-chamber array has been employed, 1000 SRS (PTW), with 977 liquid filled, 2.3x2.3x0.5 mm³ sized ion chambers covering 11x11 cm², which spacing is 2.5 mm in the central 5.5x5.5 cm², dedicated mainly in principle, in conjunction with Octavius 4D (PTW), to IMRT, VMAT, SBRT verifications. Verisoft software that allows for 3D and planar analysis has been used to evaluate the results. Applicators were located on the surface of the array. To verify the SID, measurements corresponding to the reference value, SID ± 1 mm and SID ± 2 mm were acquired (integration time was fixed in order to discard the influence of the source entrance/exit). Once SID was determined, standard protocol treatments corresponding to 3 Gy and 7 Gy were acquired in order to establish typical patient dose distribution.
Results: The method is fast and sensitive. The SID obtained was 1321 mm which is the nominal value included in the applicator manual. For example at 1319 mm an asymmetry of ±8% with respect to the central value was measured, along with a central deviation of -4% referred to 1321 mm.
Conclusion: A practical method for the commissioning and QA of Valencia applicators has been described. It has been shown that it is an efficient and accurate tool for these purposes as well as for the verification of the absolute output constancy.
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