Long-term experience in quality assurance of on-rail computed tomography systems for image-guided radiotherapy using in-house multifunctional phantoms

To report the long-term quality assurance (QA) experience of an on-rail computed tomography (CT) system for image-guided radiotherapy using an in-house phantom. An on-rail CT system combining the Elekta Synergy and Canon Aquilion LB was used. The treatment couch was shared by the linear accelerators and CT, and the couch was rotated by 180° when using the on-rail-CT system to ensure that the CT direction was toward the head. All QA analyses were performed by radiation technologists on CBCT or on-rail CT images of the in-house phantom. The CBCT center accuracy from the linac laser, couch rotational accuracy (CBCT center vs. on-rail CT center), horizontal accuracy by CT gantry shift, and remote couch shift accuracy were evaluated. This study reported the QA status of the system during the period 2014–2021. The absolute mean accuracy of couch rotation was 0.4 ± 0.28 mm, 0.44 ± 0.36 mm, and 0.37 ± 0.27 mm in the SI, RL, and AP directions, respectively. Horizontal and remote movement accuracies of the treatment couch were also within 0.5 mm of the absolute mean value. A decrease in the accuracy of couch rotation was also observed due to aging deterioration of related parts caused by the frequent use of couch rotation. The three-dimensional accuracy of on-rail CT systems derived mainly from treatment couches can be maintained within 0.5 mm with appropriate accuracy assurance for at least > 8 years.