TH‐C‐350‐03: A Dosimetric Validation of RapidArc Treatment Plans for 5 Treatment Sites

W. Verbakel, S. Senan, F. Lagerwaard, D. Hoffmans, J. Cuijpers, B. Slotman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Purpose: To compare calculated and delivered dose distributions from RapidArc™ (a form of volumetric modulated arc therapy, Varian Medical Systems). RapidArc is a novel approach for delivering single arc therapy in less than 2 minutes, while achieving dose distributions comparable to current IMRT. We report the first detailed dosimetric validation for 5 different tumour sites with RapidArc plans. Method and Materials: Clinical RapidArc plans were generated with a pre‐clinical version for single cases with glioblastoma multiforme, multiple brain metastases, nasopharynx‐, oropharynx‐ and pancreas carcinoma. All five plans were delivered with a Varian Linac and measured in a solid water phantom for 5 coronal planes, 2 cm separated, using double Gafchromic®EBT films. Plans were also measured using ionisation chamber arrays (MatriXX). Measured and calculated dose distributions were compared using 2D gamma evaluation with limits of 2mm and 3.5% (of typical PTV dose in phantom). Results: All 25 film measurements showed high agreement with calculations, with a mean gamma of 0.29 and on average 1% (maximum 3%) of the film surface exceeding a gamma of 1.0. Relatively strong spatial dose modulations could be measured, within 95–107% dose range in the PTV, which were not completely predicted by calculations. This could lead to local dose changes >3% when changing a plane by 2mm. MatriXX measurements corresponded better with dose calculations than film measurements, which may be due to the limited resolution of 7.6mm of MatriXX. Conclusion: RapidArc accurately delivers the planned dose distributions. Film measurements may be preferred for dosimetric verification as more dose modulation is detectable than with ionisation array measurements. A “2.5D” gamma evaluation taking into account multiple adjacent dose planes would show better agreement for film dosimetry. Our results indicate that RapidArc can be introduced into clinical practice. Conflict of Interest: Research was a collaboration with Varian Medical Systems.

Original languageEnglish
Number of pages1
JournalMedical physics
Volume35
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2008

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