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Title: Definition of parameters for quality assurance of flattening filter free (FFF) photon beams in radiation therapy

Abstract

Purpose: Flattening filter free (FFF) beams generated by medical linear accelerators have recently started to be used in radiotherapy clinical practice. Such beams present fundamental differences with respect to the standard filter flattened (FF) beams, making the generally used dosimetric parameters and definitions not always viable. The present study will propose possible definitions and suggestions for some dosimetric parameters for use in quality assurance of FFF beams generated by medical linacs in radiotherapy. Methods: The main characteristics of the photon beams have been analyzed using specific data generated by a Varian TrueBeam linac having both FFF and FF beams of 6 and 10 MV energy, respectively. Results: Definitions for dose profile parameters are suggested starting from the renormalization of the FFF with respect to the corresponding FF beam. From this point the flatness concept has been translated into one of 'unflatness' and other definitions have been proposed, maintaining a strict parallelism between FFF and FF parameter concepts. Conclusions: Ideas for quality controls used in establishing a quality assurance program when introducing FFF beams into the clinical environment are given here, keeping them similar to those used for standard FF beams. By following the suggestions in this report, the authors foreseemore » that the introduction of FFF beams into a clinical radiotherapy environment will be as safe and well controlled as standard beam modalities using the existing guidelines.« less

Authors:
; ; ; ; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Medical Physics Unit, Bellinzona CH-6500 (Switzerland)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22099054
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Medical Physics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 39; Journal Issue: 10; Other Information: (c) 2012 American Association of Physicists in Medicine; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0094-2405
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
07 ISOTOPES AND RADIATION SOURCES; 60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES; LINEAR ACCELERATORS; PHOTON BEAMS; QUALITY ASSURANCE; QUALITY CONTROL; RADIATION DOSES; RADIOTHERAPY; RECOMMENDATIONS; RENORMALIZATION; STANDARDS

Citation Formats

Fogliata, A., Garcia, R., Knoeoes, T., Nicolini, G., Clivio, A., Vanetti, E., Khamphan, C., Cozzi, L., Institut Sainte Catherine, Medical Physics Unit, Avignon F-84000, Radiation Physics, Skane University Hospital, Lund S-22185, Sweden and Department of Medical Radiation Physics, Lund University, Lund S-22185, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Medical Physics Unit, Bellinzona CH-6500, Institut Sainte Catherine, Medical Physics Unit, Avignon F-84000, and Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Medical Physics Unit, Bellinzona CH-6500. Definition of parameters for quality assurance of flattening filter free (FFF) photon beams in radiation therapy. United States: N. p., 2012. Web. doi:10.1118/1.4754799.
Fogliata, A., Garcia, R., Knoeoes, T., Nicolini, G., Clivio, A., Vanetti, E., Khamphan, C., Cozzi, L., Institut Sainte Catherine, Medical Physics Unit, Avignon F-84000, Radiation Physics, Skane University Hospital, Lund S-22185, Sweden and Department of Medical Radiation Physics, Lund University, Lund S-22185, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Medical Physics Unit, Bellinzona CH-6500, Institut Sainte Catherine, Medical Physics Unit, Avignon F-84000, & Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Medical Physics Unit, Bellinzona CH-6500. Definition of parameters for quality assurance of flattening filter free (FFF) photon beams in radiation therapy. United States. https://doi.org/10.1118/1.4754799
Fogliata, A., Garcia, R., Knoeoes, T., Nicolini, G., Clivio, A., Vanetti, E., Khamphan, C., Cozzi, L., Institut Sainte Catherine, Medical Physics Unit, Avignon F-84000, Radiation Physics, Skane University Hospital, Lund S-22185, Sweden and Department of Medical Radiation Physics, Lund University, Lund S-22185, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Medical Physics Unit, Bellinzona CH-6500, Institut Sainte Catherine, Medical Physics Unit, Avignon F-84000, and Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Medical Physics Unit, Bellinzona CH-6500. 2012. "Definition of parameters for quality assurance of flattening filter free (FFF) photon beams in radiation therapy". United States. https://doi.org/10.1118/1.4754799.
@article{osti_22099054,
title = {Definition of parameters for quality assurance of flattening filter free (FFF) photon beams in radiation therapy},
author = {Fogliata, A. and Garcia, R. and Knoeoes, T. and Nicolini, G. and Clivio, A. and Vanetti, E. and Khamphan, C. and Cozzi, L. and Institut Sainte Catherine, Medical Physics Unit, Avignon F-84000 and Radiation Physics, Skane University Hospital, Lund S-22185, Sweden and Department of Medical Radiation Physics, Lund University, Lund S-22185 and Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Medical Physics Unit, Bellinzona CH-6500 and Institut Sainte Catherine, Medical Physics Unit, Avignon F-84000 and Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Medical Physics Unit, Bellinzona CH-6500},
abstractNote = {Purpose: Flattening filter free (FFF) beams generated by medical linear accelerators have recently started to be used in radiotherapy clinical practice. Such beams present fundamental differences with respect to the standard filter flattened (FF) beams, making the generally used dosimetric parameters and definitions not always viable. The present study will propose possible definitions and suggestions for some dosimetric parameters for use in quality assurance of FFF beams generated by medical linacs in radiotherapy. Methods: The main characteristics of the photon beams have been analyzed using specific data generated by a Varian TrueBeam linac having both FFF and FF beams of 6 and 10 MV energy, respectively. Results: Definitions for dose profile parameters are suggested starting from the renormalization of the FFF with respect to the corresponding FF beam. From this point the flatness concept has been translated into one of 'unflatness' and other definitions have been proposed, maintaining a strict parallelism between FFF and FF parameter concepts. Conclusions: Ideas for quality controls used in establishing a quality assurance program when introducing FFF beams into the clinical environment are given here, keeping them similar to those used for standard FF beams. By following the suggestions in this report, the authors foresee that the introduction of FFF beams into a clinical radiotherapy environment will be as safe and well controlled as standard beam modalities using the existing guidelines.},
doi = {10.1118/1.4754799},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22099054}, journal = {Medical Physics},
issn = {0094-2405},
number = 10,
volume = 39,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Oct 15 00:00:00 EDT 2012},
month = {Mon Oct 15 00:00:00 EDT 2012}
}