We are excited to share an important presentation that took place during the 2024 AAPM Annual Meeting in Los Angeles.
Dan Pavord, Chief of Medical Physics at Allegheny Health Network in Pittsburgh, presented groundbreaking findings on the use of the Integral Quality Monitor (IQM) for comprehensive machine quality assurance (QA). His presentation, titled “Treatment Machine Performance Analysis and Data Trending: Using the IQM Transmission Detector to Monitor Linac Performance”, provided valuable insights into the potential of IQM to enhance clinical efficiency and improve QA processes.
Exploring New Horizons with IQM
Mr. Pavord highlighted how IQM has already demonstrated its value in patient-specific QA and treatment delivery monitoring through various clinical publications. However, his recent evaluation focused on an exciting new area: using IQM for additional machine QA tasks, including:
- Energy Tests
- Jaw Position Checks
- Wedge Factor Tests
- Gantry/Collimator Angle Checks
- Beam Center Verification
In his presentation, Mr. Pavord also shared a unique application of IQM – being the first clinic to test IQM for Electron Energy QA.
He presented the following key findings:
- Electron Energy Tests
- Output Constancy Checks
- Flatness and Symmetry Tests
Significant Time Savings with IQM
One of the standout conclusions from Mr. Pavord’s presentation was the remarkable time savings IQM offers for machine QA. With IQM, Dan reported that a full monthly QA check for both photon and electron energies could be completed in as little as 60 minutes (per linac), compared to the 90 minutes required using conventional methods. This efficiency translates into valuable time savings, enabling medical physicists to streamline QA processes without sacrificing quality.
Key Takeaways
- Proven Value in Clinical Routine: IQM continues to demonstrate its utility in patient-specific QA and real-time treatment monitoring.
- Expanding Machine QA Capabilities: IQM effectively handles a variety of machine QA tasks, from energy and jaw position tests to beam center checks.
- Efficiency for Photon and Electron QA: IQM delivers significant time savings for both photon and electron QA tasks, reducing full monthly check times from 90 minutes to approximately 60 minutes.
Looking Forward
Mr. Pavord’s findings reaffirm that IQM is a valuable tool for radiation therapy centers looking to optimize QA processes and increase operational efficiency. As the first clinic to evaluate IQM for electron energy QA, Allegheny Health Network has set a new benchmark for integrating this technology into clinical routines.