Abstract:
This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of dose distributions delivered by two helical image guided radiotherapy systems, Tomo Hi-Art and Radixact X9, in order to establish tolerance limits (TLs) and action limits (ALs) of gamma passing rates, according to the recommendations of The American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) Task Group 218. The accuracy of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) plans was analyzed in 150 patients with cancers of the head and neck, chest, and pelvis. TLs and ALs were determined from gamma passing rates of dose distribution verification, using a cylindrical diode array phantom (ArcCHECKM) with gamma criteria of 3%/3 mm and 3%/2 mm for both Tomo Hi-Art and Radixact X9 systems. According to to the 3%/2 mm gamma criteria, the TLs for Tomo Hi-Art were 95.41%, 94.72%, and 98.42% for head and neck, chest, and pelvic plans, respectively. The corresponding ALs were 94.94%, 93.60%, and 97.70%, For Radixact X9, the TLs were 95.45%, 93.61%, and 90.10% for head and neck, thoracic, and pelvic plans, respectively, with the corresponding ALs of 95.06%, 91.05%, and 88.50%. The Radixact X9 system showed slightly higher TLs and ALs of gamma passing rates than the Hi-Art system for head and neck plans, but lower values for thoracic and pelvic plans. Both helical IGRT systems demonstrated TLs of gamma passing rates greater than 95% with the 3%/3 mm gamma criterion, and greater than 90% with the 3%/2 mm criterion. No statistically significant difference was found between the two models overall, although significant differences were observed in specific target regions. Furthermore, these findings can be applied to define system-specific TLs and ALs, following the AAPM TG-218 recommendations for effective dose verification in the Quality Assurance of both Tomotherapy systems.