PTW QuickCheck^webline: Daily quality assurance phantom comparison and overall performance

Purpose: The Daily QA^TM3 phantom from Sun Nuclear Corporation has been a popular daily quality assurance (QA) tool for many institutions. PTW has recently introduced the QUICKCHECK^webline phantom as an alternative. The goal of this study was to compare these two commercially available devices for daily quality assurance measurements of a linear accelerator and assess the overall performance of the new phantom. Methods: Two daily QA phantoms (PTW QUICKCHECK^webline and Sun Nuclear Corporation Daily QA^TM3) were measured over a 4-month period using a 20x20cm² field size and delivering 150 MU. Photon energies of 6 and 18 MV were measured on a daily basis, and electron energies of 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 MeV were measured weekly on a 23EX Varian Linear Accelerator. Consistency of the dose output, beam flatness, in-plane and cross-plane symmetry, and beam quality were evaluated. Results: The QUICKCHECK^webline and Daily QA^TM3 performed with maximum percent differences from baseline of -0.97% and 1.12% for output, 1.36% and 0.82% for flatness, 0.86% and -1.36% for in-plane symmetry, -1.41% and 1.00% for cross-plane symmetry, and -0.91% and 1.29% for beam quality respectively over all energies. Conclusion: Consistent and accurate measurements over a 4-month period, a user-friendly interface, and wireless features prove the QUICKCHECK^webline would be a suitable phantom for daily quality assurance use.