Open AccessA commissioning procedure for breast intracavitary electronic brachytherapy systems
Author(s) -
Hiatt Jessica,
Cardarelli Gene,
Hepel Jaroslaw,
Wazer David,
Sternick Edward
Publication year - 2008
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 - 10.1120/jacmp.v9i3.2775
Subject(s) - brachytherapy , quality assurance , medical physics , timer , radiation treatment planning , project commissioning , computer science , nuclear medicine , medicine , radiation therapy , radiology , computer hardware , microcontroller , external quality assessment , pathology , publishing , political science , law
In this work, we report a comprehensive quality assurance (QA) process for the commissioning of an Electronic Brachytherapy (EB) system at one of the first U.S. sites to apply the device clinically. Thus far, EB systems have been released only for intracavitary breast treatments. As such, EB as an Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation (APBI) treatment modality is relatively unstudied and is unfamiliar to many medical physicists. We present our documented experience as a guide for other institutions' EB commissioning process. Our tests included eight elements: A) well‐chamber constancy, B) beam stability, C) source positional accuracy, D) output stability, E) timer linearity, F) dummy marker/source position coincidence, G) controller functionality and safety interlocks, and H) treatment planning data verification following the AAPM TG‐43 recommendations. Together with TG‐43, our methodology provides a comprehensive EB system check for medical physicists commissioning such a device. PACS Numbers: 87.53.Jw, 87.53.Xd