Implementation of a method for patient-specific imrt treatment verification using dynalog files

Abstract

The aim of this work is to implement a simple method of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) verification on the patient anatomy using dynalog files. Monitor units (MU) fraction and leaf positions, both planned and actually positioned during treatment, are sampled every 55 ms and stored in these files. This information was used in the treatment planning system to reconstruct the given fluence and to recalculate the absorbed dose in the patient’s CT, comparing absorbed dose distributions and histograms with those initially planned. Differences mainly appeared in areas with high absorbed dose gradients at the beginning and at the end of the radiation fields. These differences were lower than 3% in absorbed dose for most cases. No significant differences were found on dose-volume histograms. With proper linac and multileaf collimator commissioning, and a more stringent linac, treatment planning and record and verify system quality assurance program, this procedure allows patient-specific IMRT treatment verification, unlike conventional methods.