What test checks the uniformity of dose across a radiation field?

The beam symmetry test is essential for assessing the uniformity of dose across a radiation field. This test evaluates how evenly the radiation is distributed within the treatment area, ensuring that the radiation dose delivered to the patient is consistent throughout the entire field. Uniform dose distribution is critical in radiation therapy as it influences the effectiveness of the treatment while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues.

In contrast, field calibration tests typically focus on verifying that the radiation output from the machine matches the expected values, while dosimetry tests involve measuring the dose delivered to a specific point rather than assessing its uniformity across the entire field. Beam alignment tests mainly check that the radiation beam is correctly aligned with the intended treatment area rather than assessing dose distribution. Each of these other tests plays a role in radiation safety and effective dosing, but they do not specifically address the uniformity aspect as directly as the beam symmetry test does.