Multileaf collimator

A multileaf collimator (MLC) is a device made up of individual 'leaves' of a high atomic numbered material, usually tungsten, that can move independently in and out of the path of a particle beam in order to block it.

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MLCs are used on linear accelerators to provide conformal shaping of radiotherapy treatment beams. Specifically, conformal radiotherapy and Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) can be delivered using MLC’s.

The MLC has improved rapidly since its inception and the first use of leaves to shape structures in 1965 (Takahashi 1965) to modern day operation and use. MLC’s are now widely used and have become an integral part of any radiotherapy department. MLC’s were primarily used for conformal radiotherapy, and have allowed the cost effective implementation of conformal treatment with significant time saving (Brewster et al 1995, Helyer and Heisig 1995), and also have been adapted for use for IMRT treatments. For conformal radiotherapy the MLC allows conformal shaping of the linear accelerator (LINAC) beam to match the borders of the target tumour. For intensity modulated treatments the leaves of a MLC can be moved across the field to create IMRT distributions (it should be noted here that MLC’s really provide a fluence modulation rather than intensity modulation).

The MLC is an important tool for radiation therapy dose delivery. It was originally used as a surrogate for alloy block field shaping and is now widely used for IMRT. As with any tool used in radiotherapy the MLC must undergo commissioning and quality assurance. Additional commissioning measurements are completed to model a MLC for treatment planning. Various MLC’s are provided by different vendors and they all have unique design features as determined by specifications of design (Galvin 1993), and these differences are quite significant.

References:
Brewster L Mohan R Mageras G Burman C Leibel S and Fuks Z Three dimensional conformal treatment planning with multileaf collimators Int. J. Rad. Onc. Biol. Phys. 33 (1995) 1081–9
Helyer S J and Heisig S Multileaf collimation versus conventional shielding blocks: a time and motion study of beam shaping in radiotherapy Rad. Onc. 37 (1995) 61–4
Galvin J M Smith A R and Lally B Characterization of a multi-leaf collimator system Int. J. Rad. Onc. Biol. Phys. 25 (1993) 181–92
Takahashi S Conformation radiotherapy: rotation techniques as applied to radiography and radiotherapy of cancer Acta Radiol. Suppl. 242 (1965) 1–142