title: A rapid method for electron beam energy check.
abstract: Assessment of electron beam energy and its long term stability is part of standard quality assurance practice in radiation oncology. Conventional depth-ionization or depth-film density measurements are time consuming both in terms of data acquisition and analysis. A procedure is described utilizing ionization measurements at two energy specific depths. It is based on a linear relationship between electron beam energy and its practical range. Energy shifts within the range covered by the two measurement depths are easily resolved. Within a range of +/- 0.50 MeV (+/- 1.30 MeV) around the established mean incident energy of 5.48 MeV (20.39 MeV), the method accuracy is better than 0.10 MeV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Miami School of Medicine, Florida 33101.
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Pisciotta
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Fiedler
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Serago
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Calish-Watzich
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Schwade
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Houdek
mesh_terms: D004583:Electrons; D006801:Humans; D010315:Particle Accelerators; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy / Q000592:standards*