An EPID-based method for comprehensive verification of gantry, EPID and the MLC carriage positional accuracy in Varian linacs during arc treatments

BACKGROUND: In modern radiotherapy, it is crucial to monitor the performance of all linac components including gantry, collimation system and electronic portal imaging device (EPID) during arc deliveries. In this study, a simple EPID-based measurement method has been introduced in conjunction with an algorithm to investigate the stability of these systems during arc treatments with the aim of ensuring the accuracy of linac mechanical performance. METHODS: The Varian EPID sag, gantry sag, changes in source-to-detector distance (SDD), EPID and collimator skewness, EPID tilt, and the sag in MLC carriages as a result of linac rotation were separately investigated by acquisition of EPID images of a simple phantom comprised of 5 ball-bearings during arc delivery. A fast and robust software package was developed for automated analysis of image data. Twelve Varian linacs of different models were investigated. RESULTS: The average EPID sag was within 1 mm for all tested linacs. All machines showed less than 1 mm gantry sag. Changes in SDD values were within 1.7 mm except for three linacs of one centre which were within 9 mm. Values of EPID skewness and tilt were negligible in all tested linacs. The maximum sag in MLC leaf bank assemblies was around 1 mm. The EPID sag showed a considerable improvement in TrueBeam linacs. CONCLUSION: The methodology and software developed in this study provide a simple tool for effective investigation of the behaviour of linac components with gantry rotation. It is reproducible and accurate and can be easily performed as a routine test in clinics

Commissioning and performance characteristics of a pre-clinical image-guided radiotherapy system

Characteristics of a small-animal radiotherapy device, the X-RAD SmART, are described following commissioning of the device for pre-clinical radiotherapy research. Performance characteristics were assessed using published standards and compared with previous results published for similar systems. Operational radiation safety was established. Device X-ray beam quality and output dose-rate were found to be consistent with those reported for similar devices. Output steadily declined over 18 months though remained within tolerance levels. There is considerable variation in output factor across the international installations for the smallest feld size (varying by more than 30% for 2.5 mm diameter felds). Measured depth dose and profle data was mostly consistent with that published, with some diferences in penumbrae and generally reduced fatness. Target localisation is achieved with an imaging panel and with automatic corrections for panel fex and device mechanical instability, targeting within 0.2 mm is achievable. The small-animal image-guided radiotherapy platform has been implemented and assessed and found to perform as specifed. The combination of kV energy and high spatial precision make it suitable for replicating clinical dose distributions at the small-animal scale, though dosimetric uncertainties for the narrowest felds need to be acknowledged

Predkliničke studije [61Cu]ATSM kao PET radiofarmaka za snimanje fibrosarkoma

[61Cu]diacetyl-bis(N4-methylthiosemicarbazone) ([61Cu]ATSM) was prepared using in house-made diacetyl-bis(N4-methylthiosemicarbazone) (ATSM) ligand and [61Cu]CuCl2 produced via the natZn(p,x)61Cu (180 μA proton irradiation, 22 MeV, 3.2 h) and purified by a ion chromatography method. [61Cu]ATSM radiochemical purity was >98%, as shown by HPLC and RTLC methods. [61Cu]ATSM was administered into normal and tumor bearing rodents for up to 210 minutes, followed by biodistribution and co-incidence imaging studies. Significant tumor/non-tumor accumulation was observed either by animal sacrification or imaging. [61Cu]ATSM is a positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer for tumor hypoxia imaging.[61Cu]diacetil-bis(N4-metiltiosemikarbazon) ([61Cu]ATSM) dobiven je iz liganda diacetil-bis(N4-metiltiosemikarbazona) (ATSM) pripravljenog u vlastitom laboratoriju i [61Cu]CuCl2 dobivenog iz natZn(p,x)61Cu (180 μA protonskim zračenjem, 22 MeV, 3.2 h). [61Cu]ATSM je čišćen ionskom kromatografijom. Prema HPLC i RTLC radiokemijska čistoća bila je > 98%. [61Cu]ATSM je davan zdravim glodavcima i glodavcima s tumorom tijekom 210 minuta te je praćena biodistribucija. Žrtvovanjem testiranih životinja te snimanjem primijećena je značajna razlika u akumulaciji [61Cu]ATSM u tumorskom tkivu u odnosu na zdravo tkivo. [61Cu]ATSM je pogodan za dijagnostiku hipoksije tumora pozitron emisijskom tomografijom (PET)

Production and quality control of 65Zn radionuclide

Zinc-65 was produced in the Nuclear Research Center for Agriculture and Medicine (NRCAM) by the bombardment of natural copper targets with 30 MeV protons via the 65Cu(p,n)65Zn nuclear reaction. Natural copper was used instead of enriched 65Cu because of the quick decay of undesired radioisotopes. It was also more desirable for cost effectiveness. Cross-section calculations were performed by ALICE nuclear code and the results were compared with the experimental data given in the literature, which showed good agreement. A 160 mi m copper layer target was bombarded with a 150 miA current of 30 MeV protons for 20 min, which resulted in 170 MBq activity of 65Zn product. The yield was 3.4 MBq/miAh. The concentration of the product was 6.8 MBq/ml. Radiochemical separation was carried out by anion exchange chromatography with the yield of about 98%. Quality control of the final product showed a radionuclide purity of more than 98% and no traces of possible impurities (copper) were detected by a colorimetric method with a 1 ppm detection limit using dithizone as the reagent. The materials used for targetry and chemical separation were quite cost-effective

Preparation of [61Cu]DTPA complex as a possible PET tracer

Copper-61 (T1/2 = 3.33 h) produced via the 64Zn(p,alfa)61Cu nuclear reaction, using a natural zinc target, was separated from the irradiated target material by two ion exchange chromatography steps and was used for the preparation of [61Cu]-diethylenetriaminepentacetate ([61Cu]DTPA) using freshly-prepared DTPA cyclic dianhydride. An electroplated natural zinc layer on a gold-coated copper backing was irradiated with 22 MeV protons (22 12 MeV on the target, 180 miA irradiation, 3.2 h, final activity 220 GBq of 61Cu2+, RCY > 95%, radionuclidic purity > 99%, 60Cu as the only radionuclidic impurity; T1/2 = 23.7 min). Colorimetric methods showed that traces of chemical impurities in the product were below the accepted limits. The solution of [61Cu]DTPA was prepared with a radiochemical yield of more than 80% starting with 61CuOAc ligand at room temperature after 30 min. RTLC showed the radiochemical purity of more than 99%. The specific activity obtained was about 9.1 TBq/mmol. The tracer was shown to be stable in the final product and in the presence of human serum at 37°C up to 3 h

Investigation of the mechanical performance of Siemens linacs components during arc: gantry, MLC, and electronic portal imaging device

Pejman Rowshanfarzad,1 Peter Häring,2 Hans L Riis,3 Sune J Zimmermann,3 Martin A Ebert1,4 1School of Physics, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia; 2German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Medical Physics in Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg, Germany; 3Radiofysisk Laboratorium, Odense University Hospital, Odense C, Denmark; 4Department of Radiation Oncology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, WA, Australia Background: In radiotherapy treatments, it is crucial to monitor the performance of linac components including gantry, collimation system, and electronic portal imaging device (EPID) during arc deliveries. In this study, a simple EPID-based measurement method is suggested in conjunction with an algorithm to investigate the stability of these systems at various gantry angles with the aim of evaluating machine-related errors in treatments. Methods: The EPID sag, gantry sag, changes in source-to-detector distance (SDD), EPID and collimator skewness, EPID tilt, and the sag in leaf bank assembly due to linac rotation were separately investigated by acquisition of 37 EPID images of a simple phantom with five ball bearings at various gantry angles. A fast and robust software package was developed for automated analysis of image data. Three Siemens linacs were investigated. Results: The average EPID sag was within 1 mm for all tested linacs. Two machines showed >1 mm gantry sag. Changes in the SDD values were within 7.5 mm. EPID skewness and tilt values were <1° in all machines. The maximum sag in leaf bank assembly was <1 mm. Conclusion: The method and software developed in this study provide a simple tool for effective investigation of the behavior of Siemens linac components with gantry rotation. Such a comprehensive study has been performed for the first time on Siemens machines. Keywords: linac, Siemens, arc, sag, EPID, gantr