Open AccessNormal tissue doses from MV image‐guided radiation therapy ( IGRT ) using orthogonal MV and MV ‐ CBCT
Author(s) -
Li Yuting,
Netherton Tucker,
Nitsch Paige L.,
Balter Peter A.,
Gao Song,
Klopp Ann H.,
Court Laurence E.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of applied clinical medical physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.83
H-Index - 48
ISSN - 1526-9914
DOI - 10.1002/acm2.12276
Subject(s) - image guided radiation therapy , isocenter , nuclear medicine , imaging phantom , image quality , medical imaging , medicine , linear particle accelerator , cone beam computed tomography , physics , computed tomography , radiology , beam (structure) , optics , computer science , artificial intelligence , image (mathematics)
Purpose The aim of this study was to measure and compare the mega‐voltage imaging dose from the Halcyon medical linear accelerator (Varian Medical Systems) with measured imaging doses with the dose calculated by Eclipse treatment planning system. Methods An anthropomorphic thorax phantom was imaged using all imaging techniques available with the Halcyon linac — MV cone‐beam computed tomography ( MV ‐ CBCT ) and orthogonal anterior‐posterior/lateral pairs ( MV ‐ MV ), both with high‐quality and low‐dose modes. In total, 54 imaging technique, isocenter position, and field size combinations were evaluated. The imaging doses delivered to 11 points in the phantom (in‐target and extra‐target) were measured using an ion chamber, and compared with the imaging doses calculated using Eclipse. Results For high‐quality MV ‐ MV mode, the mean extra‐target doses delivered to the heart, left lung, right lung and spine were 1.18, 1.64, 0.80, and 1.11 cG y per fraction, respectively. The corresponding mean in‐target doses were 3.36, 3.72, 2.61, and 2.69 cG y per fraction, respectively. For MV ‐ MV technique, the extra‐target imaging dose had greater variation and dependency on imaging field size than did the in‐target dose. Compared to MV ‐ MV technique, the imaging dose from MV ‐ CBCT was less sensitive to the location of the organ relative to the treatment field. For high‐quality MV ‐ CBCT mode, the mean imaging doses to the heart, left lung, right lung, and spine were 8.45, 7.16, 7.19, and 6.51 cG y per fraction, respectively. For both MV ‐ MV and MV ‐ CBCT techniques, the low‐dose mode resulted in an imaging dose about half of that in high‐quality mode. Conclusion The in‐target doses due to MV imaging using the Halcyon ranged from 0.59 to 9.75 cG y, depending on the choice of imaging technique. Extra‐target doses from MV ‐ MV technique ranged from 0 to 2.54 cG y. The MV imaging dose was accurately calculated by Eclipse, with maximum differences less than 0.5% of a typical treatment dose (assuming a 60 Gy prescription). Therefore, the cumulative imaging and treatment plan dose distribution can be expected to accurately reflect the actual dose.