Recommendations on the practice of calibration, dosimetry, and quality assurance for gamma stereotactic radiosurgery: Report of AAPM Task Group 178

The American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) formed Task Group 178 (TG-178) to perform the following tasks: review in-phantom and in-air calibration protocols for gamma stereotactic radiosurgery (GSR), suggest a dose rate protocol that can be successfully utilized with all (GSR) devices, update quality assurance (QA) TG-42 (AAPM Report 54, 1995) static GSR devices. TG-178 report recommends formalism provides tabulated data implement it ionization chambers commonly used dosimetry. also describes routine mechanical, dosimetric, safety checks treatment process recommendations. Sample worksheets, checklists, practical suggestions regarding some QA procedures are given appendices. overall goal is make recommendations help standardize physics practices promote safe implementation technologies.