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Quality Assurance for a modern treatment planning system

Quality Assurance for a modern treatment planning system. Peter Colley. Hardware. Software. User/Docs. Data. What is QA ?. QA - systematic procedures necessary to ensure that a product or process performs to specification little published data for QA of treatment planning computers

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Quality Assurance for a modern treatment planning system

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  1. Quality Assurance for a modern treatment planning system Peter Colley

  2. Hardware Software User/Docs Data What is QA ? • QA - systematic procedures necessary to ensure that a product or process performs to specification • little published data for QA of treatment planning computers • ICRU Report 42 Quality System

  3. Documentation and User Training Considerations: • ICRU 42 • user must be “informed” about procedures implemented by the software and hardware • users’ ability to enter correct information into the system • Adequate staff training • Physicist should validate the performance of the algorithms • Documented System (Dahlin et al) Actions: • Patient Dose Calculations - Experimental Check • Absolute Dose Rate for reference conditions

  4. Software Considerations: • Algorithm Inaccuracy • complex physical problems = approximations • Implementation Inaccuracies • dose grid spacing • interpolation schemes Actions: • Test Algorithm in Routine and Extreme conditions

  5. Data Considerations: • Inaccuracies in measured data • measurement of beam parameters • measurement of patient data • Data Consistency • data corruption • defragmentation / media failure • virus • intentional modification • Inaccuracies in data entry • USER TRAINING • HARDWARE • Inaccuracies in data output • HARDWARE

  6. Hardware Considerations: • Input and Output Device Accuracy and Resolution • Digitizer Calibration • test and recalibration • Pen Plotters / Printer • accuracy ( > 1mm) • resolution • Video Display • distortion free • consistent with hard copy • Processor and Memory tests

  7. Acceptability • Additional Uncertainties: • tissue inhomogeneties? • under wedges and attenuators? • small fields? • electronic disequlibrium?

  8. QA Systems • Initial Testing / Acceptance Testing • Basis of a Quality System • Provides an operational “bench mark” • validates data coms and registration with other equipment • Reproducibility / Regular QA Testing • Uses similar tests to Initial Testing • Stipulates minimum frequency for testing to be performed • Input to corrective action stage if equipment does not meet the benchmark standards

  9. Finally... Quote from the literature: “No complex computer system can be made completely error free - careful daily examination of the treatment plans should be performed.” References: Van Dyk et al. Commissioning and Quality Assurance of Treatment Planning Computers. IJROBP, Vol26. pp261-273 Fraass et al. AAPM, Radiation Therapy Committee Task Group 53: Quality assurance for clinical radiotherapy treatment planning. Med. Phys. (10) 1998. Mayles et al. Physics Aspects of Quality Control in Radiotherapy. Report 81. Shaw JE. A Guide to Commissioning and Quality Control of Treatment Planning Systems. IPEM Report 68.

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