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Comparison of Fluence-Based RapidArc QAs Using EPID and MapCHECK 2


H Jin

H Jin*, F Jesseph , S Ahmad , Oklahoma Univ. Health Science Ctr., Oklahoma City, OK

Presentations

SU-E-T-80 Sunday 3:00PM - 6:00PM Room: Exhibit Hall

Purpose: To compare the Varian aS-1000 EPID imager to the isocentrically mounted MapCHECK 2 diode array for RapidArc QAs as a function of photon beam energy.

Methods: A Varian TrueBeam STx with an aS-1000 digital imaging panel was used to acquire RapidArc QA images for 13 patient plans; each plan QA was performed at 6, 8, 10 and 15MV energies. The Portal Dose Image Prediction algorithm in the Varian Eclipse treatment planning system (TPS) was used to create the comparison image for the EPID acquisition. A Sun Nuclear MapCHECK 2 diode array on an isocentric mounting fixture with 5 cm water-equivalent buildup was also used for the RapidArc QAs. A composite dose plane was taken from the Eclipse TPS for comparison to the MapCHECK 2 measurements. A gamma test was implemented in the Sun Nuclear Patient software with 10% threshold and absolute comparison for both QA methods. The two-tailed paired t-test was employed to analyze the statistical significance between two methods at the 95% confidence level.

Results: The average gamma passing rates were greater than 95% at 3%/3mm using both methods for all four energies. The average passing rates were within 2.5% and 1.1% of each other when analyzed at 2%/2mm and 3%/3mm conditions, respectively. The EPID passing rates were somewhat better than the MapCHECK 2 when analyzed at 1%/1mm condition; this difference decreased with increasing energy (9.1% at 6MV to 2.7% at 15MV). The differences were not statistically significant for all criteria and energies (p-value > 0.05).

Conclusion: EPID-based RapidArc QA results are comparable to MapCHECK 2 when using 3%/3mm criteria at all four energies. EPID-based QA shows potential for being the superior device under strict gamma criteria.


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