Evaluation of Elekta Agility multi-leaf collimator performance using statistical process control tools. 2019

Sandra M Meyers, and Michael J Balderson, and Daniel Létourneau
Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Center, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the performance and stability of Elekta Agility multi-leaf collimator (MLC) leaf positioning using a daily, automated quality control (QC) test based on megavoltage (MV) images in combination with statistical process control tools, and identify special causes of variations in performance. METHODS Leaf positions were collected daily for 13 Elekta linear accelerators over 11-37 months using the automated QC test, which analyzes 23 MV images to determine the location of MLC leaves relative to radiation isocenter. Leaf positioning stability was assessed using individual and moving range control charts. Specification levels of ±0.5, ±1, and ±1.5 mm were tested to determine positional accuracy. The durations between out-of-control and out-of-specification events were determined. Peaks in out-of-control leaf positions were identified and correlated to servicing events recorded for the whole duration of data collection. RESULTS Mean leaf position error was -0.01 mm (range -1.3-1.6). Data stayed within ±1 mm specification for 457 days on average (range 3-838) and within ±1.5 mm for the entire date range. Measurements stayed within ±0.5 mm for 1 day on average (range 0-17); however, our MLC leaves were not calibrated to this level of accuracy. Leaf position varied little over time, as confirmed by tight individual (mean ±0.19 mm, range 0.09-0.43) and moving range (mean 0.23 mm, range 0.10-0.53) control limits. Due to sporadic out-of-control events, the mean in-control duration was 2.8 days (range 1-28.5). A number of factors were found to contribute to leaf position errors and out-of-control behavior, including servicing events, beam spot motion, and image artifacts. CONCLUSIONS The Elekta Agility MLC model was found to perform with high stability, as evidenced by the tight control limits. The in-specification durations support the current recommendation of monthly MLC QC tests with a ±1 mm tolerance. Future work is on-going to determine if performance can be optimized further using high-frequency QC test results to drive recalibration frequency.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010315 Particle Accelerators Devices which accelerate electrically charged atomic or subatomic particles, such as electrons, protons or ions, to high velocities so they have high kinetic energy. Betatrons,Linear Accelerators,Accelerator, Linear,Accelerator, Particle,Accelerators, Linear,Accelerators, Particle,Betatron,Linear Accelerator,Particle Accelerator
D011786 Quality Control A system for verifying and maintaining a desired level of quality in a product or process by careful planning, use of proper equipment, continued inspection, and corrective action as required. (Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed) Control, Quality,Controls, Quality,Quality Controls
D011879 Radiotherapy Dosage The total amount of radiation absorbed by tissues as a result of radiotherapy. Dosage, Radiotherapy,Dosages, Radiotherapy,Radiotherapy Dosages
D011880 Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted Computer-assisted mathematical calculations of beam angles, intensities of radiation, and duration of irradiation in radiotherapy. Computer-Assisted Radiotherapy Planning,Dosimetry Calculations, Computer-Assisted,Planning, Computer-Assisted Radiotherapy,Calculation, Computer-Assisted Dosimetry,Calculations, Computer-Assisted Dosimetry,Computer Assisted Radiotherapy Planning,Computer-Assisted Dosimetry Calculation,Computer-Assisted Dosimetry Calculations,Dosimetry Calculation, Computer-Assisted,Dosimetry Calculations, Computer Assisted,Planning, Computer Assisted Radiotherapy,Radiotherapy Planning, Computer Assisted
D002138 Calibration Determination, by measurement or comparison with a standard, of the correct value of each scale reading on a meter or other measuring instrument; or determination of the settings of a control device that correspond to particular values of voltage, current, frequency or other output. Calibrations
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D015233 Models, Statistical Statistical formulations or analyses which, when applied to data and found to fit the data, are then used to verify the assumptions and parameters used in the analysis. Examples of statistical models are the linear model, binomial model, polynomial model, two-parameter model, etc. Probabilistic Models,Statistical Models,Two-Parameter Models,Model, Statistical,Models, Binomial,Models, Polynomial,Statistical Model,Binomial Model,Binomial Models,Model, Binomial,Model, Polynomial,Model, Probabilistic,Model, Two-Parameter,Models, Probabilistic,Models, Two-Parameter,Polynomial Model,Polynomial Models,Probabilistic Model,Two Parameter Models,Two-Parameter Model
D050397 Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated CONFORMAL RADIOTHERAPY that combines several intensity-modulated beams to provide improved dose homogeneity and highly conformal dose distributions. Helical Tomotherapy,Intensity-Modulated Arc Therapy,Volumetric-Modulated Arc Therapy,Arc Therapies, Intensity-Modulated,Arc Therapies, Volumetric-Modulated,Arc Therapy, Intensity-Modulated,Arc Therapy, Volumetric-Modulated,Helical Tomotherapies,Intensity Modulated Arc Therapy,Intensity-Modulated Arc Therapies,Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapies,Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy,Radiotherapies, Intensity-Modulated,Radiotherapy, Intensity Modulated,Therapies, Intensity-Modulated Arc,Therapies, Volumetric-Modulated Arc,Therapy, Intensity-Modulated Arc,Therapy, Volumetric-Modulated Arc,Tomotherapies, Helical,Tomotherapy, Helical,Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy,Volumetric-Modulated Arc Therapies

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