BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEThe planning dose distribution of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) has to be verified before clinical implementation. The commonly used verification method is to measure the beam fluency at 0 degree gantry angle with a 2-dimensional (2D) detector array, but not the composite dose distribution of the real delivery in the planned gantry angles. This study was to investigate the angular dependence of a 2D diode array (2D array) and the feasibility of using it to verify the composite dose distribution of IMRT.

METHODSAngular response of the central detector in the 2D array was measured for 6 MV X-ray, 10 cmx10 cm field and 100 cm source axis distance (SAD) in different depths. With the beam incidence angle of 0-60 degrees, at intervals of 10 degrees, and inherent buildup of the 2D array (2 g/cm2), the array was irradiated and the readings of the central diode were compared with the measurement of thimble ionization chamber. Using a combined 30 cmx30 cmx30 cm phantom which consisted of solid water slabs on top and underlying the 2D array, with the diode detectors placed at 8 g/cm2 depth, measurements were taken for beam angles of 0 degrees-180 degrees at intervals of 10 degrees and compared with the calculation of treatment planning system (TPS) that pre-verified with ion chamber measuring.

RESULTSDifferences between the array detector and thimble chamber measurements were greater than 1% and 3.5% when the beam angle was larger than 30 degrees and 60 degrees, respectively. The measurements in the combined phantom were different from the calculation as high as 20% for 90 degrees beam angle, 2% at 90 degrees+/-5 degrees and less than 1% for all the other beam angles.

CONCLUSIONSThe 2D diode array is capable of being used in composite dose verification of IMRT when the beam angles of 90 degrees+/-5 degrees and 270 degrees+/-5 degrees are avoided.