Quality assurance for gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery

Journal Article · Sun Jul 30 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0360-3016(95)00577-L· OSTI ID:539414

Maitz, A H; Wu, A; Lunsford, L D ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Pittsburgh Medical Center, PA (United States); and others

This quality assurance program is designed for stereotactic radiosurgical units, gamma knife, to check and maintain the unit to preclude accidents and comply with current regulations. Over 58 stereotactic radiosurgical units using 201 focused {sup 60}Co beams have been installed in the last 7 years and are in use at hospitals throughout the world, with at least 11 additional units being prepared to come on-line in the next year. This system has been in use at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) for 7 years. A comprehensive quality assurance program has been developed. It includes the physics and dosimetry parameters and safety checks required by regulatory agencies. The program, based on over 7 years of experience in measurements, and used during the treatment of over 1500 patients, is separated into three aspects, namely physics, dosimetry, and safety. The UPMC program hopefully will indicate out-of-tolerance problems. Some quality assurance items are checked on a daily basis prior to patient treatment, while other aspects are checked on a weekly, monthly, and/or annual basis. A complete list of items with their respective time tables and tolerances is provided. Although experience shows very small margins of error, larger values were chosen to account for variations in equipment and techniques. Items included in this quality assurance program should indicate and/or preclude problems encountered in the use of this unit. 10 refs., 8 figs., 1 tab.

• OSTI ID: 539414
• Journal Information: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, Journal Name: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 32; ISSN IOBPD3; ISSN 0360-3016
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

44 INSTRUMENTATION
INCLUDING NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE DETECTORS
55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BASIC STUDIES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
ACCURACY
COBALT 60
DOSIMETRY
GAMMA RADIATION
HOSPITALS
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
PATIENTS
PERFORMANCE
PERSONNEL
PHYSICS
QUALITY ASSURANCE
QUALITY CONTROL
RADIATION ACCIDENTS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION PROTECTION
RADIOTHERAPY
REGULATIONS
SAFETY STANDARDS
SURGERY
TOLERANCE
US NRC