Acceptance testing and commissioning of Ximatron radiotherapy simulator

Though it is well understood that success of radiotherapy involves correct treatment simulation and accurate patient positioning, the quality assurance of radiotherapy simulator receives little attention. A radiotherapy simulator combines the technology from the therapeutic and diagnostic radiology, and hence it needs to be tested for both. In this paper, the authors describe the methods adopted in carrying out the acceptance testing and quality assurance of a Varian Ximatron simulator prior to its commissioning. Pre-commissioning and quality assurance programs consisted of verification of (i) mechanical and optical parameters, (ii) parameters associated with x-ray beam, (iii) performance of image intensifier, and (iv) parameters related to quality assurance and radiation protection