A single-optical kernel for a phosphor-screen-based geometric QA system (RavenQA^™) as a tool for patient-specific IMRT/VMAT QA

It has been proven that portal dosimetry can be derived from a mirror-based fluorescent EPID system by applying multiple kernels that are position dependent. The purpose of this study is to show that patient-specific IMRT/VMAT verification with a single kernel which is acquired from a series of output measurements of a few field sizes is feasible using a commercially available phosphor-screen–based geometric QA system.

The optical scatter component in the RavenQA^™ (LAP GmbH Laser Applications; Lüneberg, Germany) is corrected by deconvolution with a two-dimensional (2D) spatially invariant single optical scatter kernel (OSK). We assume that the OSK is a 2D isotropic point spread function that decreases as a function of distance from the scatter center. The OSK is determined by comparing output factors of various field sizes. We report on performance testing of the system using 12 intensity-modulated radiation therapy and three volumetric-modulated arc therapy cases.

A single spatially invariant OSK can be employed, because the shapes of the OSK across the image plate are almost identical. The average 3%/3 mm gamma passing rate for 15 patients was 97.6%  ±  1.1%. The passing rate was  >95% for all patients.

It is feasible to perform the patient-specific IMRT/VMAT verification with a single kernel using a commercially available phosphor-screen-based mechanical QA device in accordance with AAPM TG-142. It is also practical to implement since it only requires to measure the optical intensities of the field centers of several square fields, in order to obtain the OSK. (note)