Feasibility of output quality assurance considering gantry angle using “Stealth Chamber”

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: This study was conducted to demonstrate the feasibility of X-ray output constancy quality assurance (QA) of a linear accelerator for various gantry angles using the Stealth Chamber. Methods: The X-ray output constancy of a Varian TrueBeam STx was evaluated under various gantry angles and a 10 × 10 cm2 field size using a Stealth Chamber. Specifically, 10X and 10X-flattening-filter-free beams with dose rates of 600 and 2400 monitor units (MU)/min, respectively, were used. The Stealth Chamber was attached to the gantry head, and irradiation was performed every 45° for gantry angles of 0-315°. To evaluate the variations in the output constancy with respect to the gantry angle, the acquired values were normalized to the value corresponding to a 0° gantry angle. The obtained results were utilized to determine the correction factors for all gantry angles. To verify the correction factors, additional measurements were performed for five days. Results: The maximum variation in the output constancy measurement relative to the output constancy at a 0° gantry angle was found to be approximately 4.0% for both energy beams at a gantry angle of 180°. Furthermore, the measured values were dependent on the gantry angle. Upon applying the correction factor, the variation in the output constancy with respect to the gantry angle was less than 0.5%. Conclusions: Output constancy QA using the Stealth Chamber for various gantry angles was found to be feasible with the application of a correction factor.