Acceptance testing and commissioning of a Ximatron radiotherapy simulator

Though it is well understood that the success of radiotherapy involves correct treatment simulation and accurate patient positioning, the quality assurance of the radiotherapy simulator receives little attention. A radiotherapy simulator combines the technology from therapeutic and diagnostic radiology and needs to be tested for both. As pre-commissioning quality assurance program, the Varian Ximatron simulator was checked for (i) mechanical and optical parameters; (ii) parameters of X-ray beam; (iii) performance of image intensifier; and (iv) parameters relating to safety and radiation protection. In this paper the authors present the methods adopted and the results of the quality assurance of the Ximatron radiotherapy simulator.