Anthropomorphic Phantoms
Modern radiation therapy techniques require precise and standard measurements to provide optimal care for cancer patients. Our anthropomorphic phantom tests, designed for different anatomical disease sites, involve the use of human-like phantoms, specially designed and constructed to simulate the response of human tissues to ionizing radiation. These tests provide an essential and independent evaluation of radiation therapy treatment quality and linear accelerator performance.
Each phantom design consists of a plastic shell or composite material in the appropriate anatomical shape and houses an imaging and dosimetry insert. The imaging inserts include target geometry and nearby critical structures that can be observed with CT. The phantom can be imaged with the imaging insert, and the images can be transferred to a treatment planning system for target volume delineation. The dosimetry insert used during treatment contains both radiochromic film and thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) to measure both absolute dose and dose distributions to verify treatment accuracy.
The RQA Lab uses treatment planning information provided by the institution and the data gathered from TLD and film to analyze the institution’s ability to deliver its planned treatment.
To order an anthropomorphic phantom, please fill out a phantom request form.
Note: If you are part of the EORTC, please fill out the EORTC phantom request form.
Types of Phantoms
Head and Neck Phantom
The RQA Lab Head & Neck Phantom consists of a plastic composite shell with a treatment insert and a base to assist in positioning. The phantom’s insert contains imageable targets that simulate a posterior nasopharyngeal tumor partially wrapped around the spinal cord and a peripheral lymph node. This phantom, requiring two dose levels to effectively treat the primary and secondary targets, challenges an institution’s ability to perform complex IMRT similar to that of a real head and neck cancer patient.
Thorax-Lung Phantom
The RQA Lab Thorax-Lung Phantom mimics a heterogeneous thorax for remote verification of lung radiotherapy. With its unique design, including low-density lung, a heart and spinal cord, this phantom is designed to challenge the imaging system, the treatment planning system and the dose delivery system.
This phantom is available with an optional motion platform to simulate patient respiration patterns and test an institution’s ability to effectively treat a moving target.
Instructions for the Thorax-Lung Phantom (6Gy delivery)
Instructions for the VARIAN Thorax-Lung Phantom (20Gy delivery)
Prostate Phantom
The RQA Lab Prostate Phantom consists of hollow plastic shell that is shipped empty and filled with water upon arrival at the institution. The phantom includes bone-density femoral heads and is supplied with two inserts: one for imaging and the second for dosimetry.
Spine Phantom
This is a spine insert for our thorax phantom.
Stereotactic Radiosurgery Head Phantom
The RQA Lab Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) Head Phantom is designed to test an institution’s ability to locate and treat an intracranial target to a high degree of precision. The phantom is mailed to institutions wishing to measure their SRS deliveries.
This head-shaped phantom is made of a thermoplastic material and is shipped with two interchangeable imaging and dosimetry inserts. The imaging insert can be imaged by CT or MRI and allows for treatment volume definition. The dosimetry insert contains radiochromic film and TLD and is used during the treatment of the phantom.
HDR Phantom
The HDR Phantom is used as an independent peer reviewed test of the high-dose-rate (HDR) dose calculated with the HDR planning system.