Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Quantitative Approach to Failure Mode and Effect Analysis for Linear Accelerator Quality Assurance.

Publication ,  Journal Article
O'Daniel, JC; Yin, F-F
Published in: Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys
May 1, 2017

PURPOSE: To determine clinic-specific linear accelerator quality assurance (QA) TG-142 test frequencies, to maximize physicist time efficiency and patient treatment quality. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A novel quantitative approach to failure mode and effect analysis is proposed. Nine linear accelerator-years of QA records provided data on failure occurrence rates. The severity of test failure was modeled by introducing corresponding errors into head and neck intensity modulated radiation therapy treatment plans. The relative risk of daily linear accelerator QA was calculated as a function of frequency of test performance. RESULTS: Although the failure severity was greatest for daily imaging QA (imaging vs treatment isocenter and imaging positioning/repositioning), the failure occurrence rate was greatest for output and laser testing. The composite ranking results suggest that performing output and lasers tests daily, imaging versus treatment isocenter and imaging positioning/repositioning tests weekly, and optical distance indicator and jaws versus light field tests biweekly would be acceptable for non-stereotactic radiosurgery/stereotactic body radiation therapy linear accelerators. CONCLUSIONS: Failure mode and effect analysis is a useful tool to determine the relative importance of QA tests from TG-142. Because there are practical time limitations on how many QA tests can be performed, this analysis highlights which tests are the most important and suggests the frequency of testing based on each test's risk priority number.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys

DOI

EISSN

1879-355X

Publication Date

May 1, 2017

Volume

98

Issue

1

Start / End Page

56 / 62

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated
  • Radiotherapy Setup Errors
  • Radiation Oncology
  • Quality Control
  • Quality Assurance, Health Care
  • Particle Accelerators
  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • Humans
  • Healthcare Failure Mode and Effect Analysis
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
O’Daniel, J. C., & Yin, F.-F. (2017). Quantitative Approach to Failure Mode and Effect Analysis for Linear Accelerator Quality Assurance. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys, 98(1), 56–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2017.01.035
O’Daniel, Jennifer C., and Fang-Fang Yin. “Quantitative Approach to Failure Mode and Effect Analysis for Linear Accelerator Quality Assurance.Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 98, no. 1 (May 1, 2017): 56–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2017.01.035.
O’Daniel JC, Yin F-F. Quantitative Approach to Failure Mode and Effect Analysis for Linear Accelerator Quality Assurance. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2017 May 1;98(1):56–62.
O’Daniel, Jennifer C., and Fang-Fang Yin. “Quantitative Approach to Failure Mode and Effect Analysis for Linear Accelerator Quality Assurance.Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys, vol. 98, no. 1, May 2017, pp. 56–62. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2017.01.035.
O’Daniel JC, Yin F-F. Quantitative Approach to Failure Mode and Effect Analysis for Linear Accelerator Quality Assurance. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2017 May 1;98(1):56–62.
Journal cover image

Published In

Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys

DOI

EISSN

1879-355X

Publication Date

May 1, 2017

Volume

98

Issue

1

Start / End Page

56 / 62

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated
  • Radiotherapy Setup Errors
  • Radiation Oncology
  • Quality Control
  • Quality Assurance, Health Care
  • Particle Accelerators
  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • Humans
  • Healthcare Failure Mode and Effect Analysis
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms