Question
What are the guidelines for film QA for myQA Patients?
Answer
In Film QA exposure and image quality, specifically image noise are playing an important factor in giving good results.
Step 1
First, we have to consider the technical aspects like model of the scanner and film orientation, film alignment, control time between irradiation and scanning and environmental factors (humidity, temperature), storage, etc.
Step 2
The following must be observed while performing the film QA.
Use gloves and avoid dust. Use a cutter device and mark orientation. Cut films 1-2 days before and 6 h post processing after the exposure. Then scan the film.
Portrait orientation of the film on the scanner:
Step 3
Please follow the below settings for the film scanning:
- Scan all films in the same orientation
- Landscape or portrait orientation
- Place the film at the center of the scanner bed
- Practical spatial resolution for IMRT/VMAT QA
- 72 dpi, i.e. 0.35 mm per pixel
- Use 48-bit color mode, red, green, blue channels
- Use transmission mode
- Disable color correction feature
Here the example of an Epson scanner:
How to use to myQA Patients Film Analysis tool?
Step 4
Also create a QA verification plan in the phantom and expose the QA IMRT Plan which is created in the phantom structure. Do not expose the actual patient plan calculated on the patient Anatomy.
Step 5
Both calibration procedure and patient QA should be in the same setup, e.g. as shown below: