Spatial Resolution and Frequency Characteristics for Dose Modulation on the TrueBeam Medical Accelerator

Purpose: To study the spatial resolution achievable by dose modulation in a water phantom using a multi-leaf collimator, jaws and their combination. To estimate the power spectrum density of the useful signal (dose distribution) and statistical noise, evaluate the frequency interval containing the useful signal. Material and methods: Using the Gafchromic EBT2 radiochromic film, nested squares dose patterns formed in a water-equivalent phantom by 6 and 15 MV photon beams of the TrueBeam medical accelerator, jaws, a multi-leaf collimator, and a combination of these devices were measured. Dose response to step function (ESF) data was extracted from the penumbra and the linear photon source dose response function (LSF) was calculated. To move to frequency domain, fast Fourier transform was performed over the obtained datasets, as well as over individual LSF peaks, and then power spectra densities were calculated. The Nyquist frequency associated with data sampling was 1.42 mm-1, the Hann window was used to minimize leakage effect. Results: The shape of the obtained LSF peaks was approximated by a sum of two Gaussian distributions with the same center positions but different widths. The LSF peak width at half maximum (FWHM) was 1.7-3.9 mm depending on the modulation device. No significant difference was observed in the peak widths at energies of 6 and 15 MV. In most cases, the width of the peak along the X-axis was wider than along the Y-axis. The power spectrum of the useful signal had a maximum near zero frequency, a 50 % level was near 0.09 mm-1 and its high frequency limit was about 0.4 mm-1. Above this value, only the spectrum of statistical noise was recorded, uniformly distributed over frequency. Conclusion: The obtained values of the LSF peak width in the range 1.7-3.9 mm characterize the ability of dose modulation by the considered devices or their combination, which can be significant for treatment of small targets (less than 3-4 cm), where these limits of spatial resolution can be reached. The obtained relationships in frequency domain can be used for optimal removal of statistical noise using Wiener filters from profiles or two-dimensional dose distributions.

Effect of treatment planning system parameters on beam modulation complexity for treatment plans with single-layer multi-leaf collimator and dual-layer stacked multi-leaf collimator

Objective: High levels of beam modulation complexity (MC) and monitor units (μ) can compromise the plan deliverability of intensity-modulated radiotherapy treatments. Our study evaluates the effect of three treatment planning system (TPS) parameters on MC and μ using different multi leaf collimator (MLC) architectures. Methods: 192 volumetric-modulated arc therapy plans were calculated using one virtual prostate phantom considering three main settings: (1) three TPS-parameters (Convergence; Aperture Shape Controller, ASC; and Dose Calculation Resolution, DCR) selected from Eclipse v15.6, (2) four levels of dose-sparing priority for organs at risk (OAR), and (3) two treatment units with same nominal conformity resolution and different MLC architectures (Halcyon-v2 dual-layer MLC, DL-MLC & TrueBeam single-layer MLC, SL-MLC). We use seven complexity metrics to evaluate the MC, including two new metrics for DL-MLC, assessed by their correlation with γ passing rate (GPR) analysis. Results: DL-MLC plans demonstrated lower dose-sparing values than SL-MLC plans (p < 0.05). TPS-parameters didn’t change significantly the complexity metrics for either MLC architectures. However, for SL-MLC, significant variations of μ, target volume dose-homogeneity, and dose-spillage were associated with ASC and DCR (p < 0.05). μ were found to be correlated (highly or moderately) with all complexity metrics (p < 0.05) for both MLC plans. Additionally, our new complexity metrics presented a moderate correlation with GPR (r < 0.65). An important correlation was demonstrated between MC (plan deliverability) and dose-sparing priority level for DL-MLC. Conclusions: TPS-parameters selected do not change MC for DL-MLC architecture, but they might have a potential use to control the μ, PTV homogeneity or dose spillage for SL-MLC. Our new DL-MLC complexity metrics presented important information to be considered in future pre-treatment quality assurance programs. Finally, the prominent dependence between plan deliverability and priority applied to OAR dose sparing for DL-MLC needs to be analysed and considered as an additional predictor of GPRs in further studies. Advances in knowledge: Dose-sparing priority might influence in modulation complexity of DL-MLC.