Definition of parameters for quality assurance of flattening filter free (FFF) photon beams in radiation therapy.
Med Phys
; 39(10): 6455-64, 2012 Oct.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-23039680
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 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.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Radiotherapy
/
Photons
Type of study:
Guideline
Language:
En
Journal:
Med Phys
Year:
2012
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Switzerland
Publication country:
EEUU
/
ESTADOS UNIDOS
/
ESTADOS UNIDOS DA AMERICA
/
EUA
/
UNITED STATES
/
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
/
US
/
USA