A commissioning procedure for breast intracavitary electronic brachytherapy systems

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 A...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of applied clinical medical physics 2008-06, Vol.9 (3), p.58-68
Main Authors: Hiatt, Jessica, Cardarelli, Gene, Hepel, Jaroslaw, Wazer, David, Sternick, Edward
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accuracy
Brachytherapy - methods
Breast cancer
Breast Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging
Breast Neoplasms - radiotherapy
Calibration
commissioning
Dosimetry
Electronic Brachytherapy
Female
Humans
Intracavitary Accelerated Partial Breast Irradiation
Iridium Radioisotopes - therapeutic use
Laboratories
Patients
Planning
Radiation Oncology Physics
Radiation therapy
Radionuclide Imaging
Radiopharmaceuticals - therapeutic use
Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted - methods
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Summary: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
ISSN:1526-9914
1526-9914
DOI:10.1120/jacmp.v9i3.2775