Quality assurance for the geometric accuracy of cone-beam CT guidance in radiation therapy

The introduction of volumetric X-ray image-guided radiotherapy systems allows improved management of geometric variations in patient setup and internal organ motion. As these systems become a routine clinical modality, we propose a daily quality assurance (QA) program for cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) integrated with a linear accelerator. The image-guided system used in this work combines a linear accelerator with conventional X-ray tube and an amorphous silicon flat-panel detector mounted orthogonally from the accelerator central beam axis. This article focuses on daily QA protocols germane to geometric accuracy of the CBCT systems and proposes tolerance levels on the basis of more than 3 years of experience with seven CBCT systems used in our clinic. Monthly geometric calibration tests demonstrate the long-term stability of the flex movements, which are reproducible within +/- 0.5 mm (95% confidence interval). The daily QA procedure demonstrates that, for rigid phantoms, the accuracy of the image-guided process can be within 1 mm on average, with a 99% confidence interval of +/- 2 mm. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc.