Introduction:

in Cuba, in 2018, a total of 12 070 new cases of skin cancer were diagnosed, from which it is estimated that 11 587 correspond to the non-melanoma type. Radiation therapy with X-rays is considered the first-line treatment in many of these cases. Recently, the national healthcare system acquired four SENSUS SRT-100TM units for treating Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer (NMSC).

Objective:

to develop a standardized methodology for the dosimetric characterization of the equipments of surface radiotherapy with X-rays installed in Cuba.

Methods:

four SENSUS SRT-100TM radiotherapy equipments were characterized for each of their radiological qualities, in terms of linearity, stability, hemi-reductive layer, reference dose rates, dose profiles, cone factors and percentage of dose in depth. The recommendations of the AAPM TG-61 and the IAEA-TRS 398 were applied for this purpose.

Results:

the averages of HVLs (mm Al) and their respective coefficients of variation (CV) were 5,526 - 5,2 %; 1,130 - 2,1 % and 2,007 - 2,1 % for 50, 70 and 100 kV respectively. The yields presented little variability between machines (CV < 3%) and were very similar by the methods "in water" and "in air" (discrepancy < 0,5 %).

Conclusions:

the equipments show excellent stability and very similar dosimetric characteristics among them, which allows establishing reference values for eventual external audits and beam readjustments after the maintenance or repairs involving the X-ray generator.

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