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Muir B, Davis S, Dhanesar S, Hillman Y, Iakovenko V, Kim GGY, Alves VGL, Lei Y, Lowenstein J, Renaud J, Sarfehnia A, Siebers J, Tantôt L. AAPM WGTG51 Report 385: Addendum to the AAPM's TG-51 protocol for clinical reference dosimetry of high-energy electron beams. Med Phys 2024. [PMID: 38980220 DOI: 10.1002/mp.17277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
An Addendum to the AAPM's TG-51 protocol for the determination of absorbed dose to water is presented for electron beams with energies between 4 MeV and 22 MeV (1.70 cm ≤ R 50 ≤ 8.70 cm $1.70\nobreakspace {\rm cm} \le R_{\text{50}} \le 8.70\nobreakspace {\rm cm}$ ). This updated formalism allows simplified calibration procedures, including the use of calibrated cylindrical ionization chambers in all electron beams without the use of a gradient correction. Newk Q $k_{Q}$ data are provided for electron beams based on Monte Carlo simulations. Implementation guidance is provided. Components of the uncertainty budget in determining absorbed dose to water at the reference depth are discussed. Specifications for a reference-class chamber in electron beams include chamber stability, settling, ion recombination behavior, and polarity dependence. Progress in electron beam reference dosimetry is reviewed. Although this report introduces some major changes (e.g., gradient corrections are implicitly included in the electron beam quality conversion factors), they serve to simplify the calibration procedure. Results for absorbed dose per linac monitor unit are expected to be up to approximately 2 % higher using this Addendum compared to using the original TG-51 protocol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan Muir
- Metrology Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stephen Davis
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Miami Cancer Institute, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Sandeep Dhanesar
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texa, USA
| | - Yair Hillman
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sharett Institute of Oncology, Hadassah Medical Center, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | | | - Grace Gwe-Ya Kim
- Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, UC San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, California, USA
| | | | - Yu Lei
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Jessica Lowenstein
- Department of Radiation Physics, UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texa, USA
| | - James Renaud
- Metrology Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Arman Sarfehnia
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Physics, Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jeffrey Siebers
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Laurent Tantôt
- Département de radio-oncologie, CIUSSS de l'Est-de-l'Île-de-Montréal - Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Yasui K, Nakajima Y, Suda Y, Arai Y, Takizawa T, Sakai K, Fujita Y. Experimental investigation of the effective point of measurement for plane-parallel chambers used in electron beam dosimetry. J Appl Clin Med Phys 2023:e14059. [PMID: 37307247 DOI: 10.1002/acm2.14059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, the effective point of measurement (EPOM) for plane-parallel ionization chambers in clinical high-energy electron beams was determined experimentally. Previous studies have reported that the EPOM of plane-parallel chambers is shifted several tens of millimeters downstream from the inner surface of the entrance window to the cavity. These findings were based on the Monte Carlo (MC) simulation, and few experimental studies have been performed. Thus, additional experimental validations of the reported EPOMs were required. In this study, we investigated the EPOMs of three plane-parallel chambers (NACP-02, Roos and Advanced Markus) for clinical electron beams. The EPOMs were determined by comparing the measured percentage depth-dose (PDD) of the plane-parallel chambers and the PDD obtained using the microDiamond detector. The optimal shift to the EPOM was energy-dependent. The determined EPOM showed no chamber-to-chamber variation, thereby allowing the use of a single value. The mean optimal shifts were 0.104 ± 0.011, 0.040 ± 0.012, and 0.012 ± 0.009 cm for NACP-02, Roos, and Advanced Markus, respectively. These values are valid in the R50 range from 2.40 to 8.82 cm, which correspond to 6-22 MeV. Roos and Advanced Markus exhibited similar results to those of the previous studies, but NACP-02 showed a larger shift. This is probably due to the uncertainty of the entrance window of NACP-02. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully consider where the optimal EPOM is located when using this chamber.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kohki Yasui
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Komazawa University Graduate School, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yujiro Nakajima
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Komazawa University, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuhi Suda
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yu Arai
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takuto Takizawa
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kaito Sakai
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Komazawa University Graduate School, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yukio Fujita
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Komazawa University, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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Muir B, Culberson W, Davis S, Kim GGY, Lee SW, Lowenstein J, Renaud J, Sarfehnia A, Siebers J, Tantôt L, Tolani N. AAPM WGTG51 Report 374: Guidance for TG-51 reference dosimetry. Med Phys 2022; 49:6739-6764. [PMID: 36000424 DOI: 10.1002/mp.15949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Practical guidelines that are not explicit in the TG-51 protocol and its Addendum for photon beam dosimetry are presented for the implementation of the TG-51 protocol for reference dosimetry of external high-energy photon and electron beams. These guidelines pertain to: (i) measurement of depth-ionization curves required to obtain beam quality specifiers for the selection of beam quality conversion factors, (ii) considerations for the dosimetry system and specifications of a reference-class ionization chamber, (iii) commissioning a dosimetry system and frequency of measurements, (iv) positioning/aligning the water tank and ionization chamber for depth ionization and reference dose measurements, (v) requirements for ancillary equipment needed to measure charge (triaxial cables and electrometers) and to correct for environmental conditions, and (vi) translation from dose at the reference depth to that at the depth required by the treatment planning system. Procedures are identified to achieve the most accurate results (errors up to 8% have been observed) and, where applicable, a commonly used simplified procedure is described and the impact on reference dosimetry measurements is discussed so that the medical physicist can be informed on where to allocate resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan Muir
- Metrology Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Wesley Culberson
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
| | - Stephen Davis
- Radiation Oncology, Miami Cancer Institute, Miami, Florida, United States
| | - Grace Gwe-Ya Kim
- Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, UC San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California, United States
| | - Sung-Woo Lee
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Columbia, Maryland, United States
| | - Jessica Lowenstein
- Department of Radiation Physics, UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States
| | - James Renaud
- Metrology Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Arman Sarfehnia
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jeffrey Siebers
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States
| | - Laurent Tantôt
- Département de radio-oncologie, CIUSSS de l'Est-de-l'Île-de-Montréal - Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Naresh Tolani
- Department of Radiation Therapy, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, Texas, United States
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Muir BR. A modified formalism for electron beam reference dosimetry to improve the accuracy of linac output calibration. Med Phys 2020; 47:2267-2276. [PMID: 31985833 DOI: 10.1002/mp.14048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To present and demonstrate the accuracy of a modified formalism for electron beam reference dosimetry using updated Monte Carlo calculated beam quality conversion factors. METHODS The proposed, simplified formalism allows the use of cylindrical ionization chambers in all electron beams (even those with low beam energies) and does not require a measured gradient correction factor. Data from a previous publication are used for beam quality conversion factors. The formalism is tested and compared to the present formalism in the AAPM TG-51 protocol with measurements made in Elekta Precise electron beams with energies between 4 MeV and 22 MeV and with fields shaped with a 10 × 10 cm2 clinical applicator as well as a 20 × 20 cm2 clinical applicator for the 18 MeV and 22 MeV beams. A set of six ionization chambers are used for measurements (two cylindical reference-class chambers, two scanning-type chambers and two parallel-plate chambers). Dose per monitor unit is derived using the data and formalism provided in the TG-51 protocol and with the proposed formalism and data and compared to that obtained using ionization chambers calibrated directly against primary standards for absorbed dose in electron beams. RESULTS The standard deviation of results using different chambers when TG-51 is followed strictly is on the order of 0.4% when parallel-plate chambers are cross-calibrated against cylindrical chambers. However, if parallel-plate chambers are directly calibrated in a cobalt-60 beam, the difference between results for these chambers is up to 2.2%. Using the proposed formalism and either directly calibrated or cross-calibrated parallel-plate chambers gives a standard deviation using different chambers of 0.4%. The difference between results that use TG-51 and the primary standard measurements are on the order of 0.6% with a maximum difference in the 4 MeV beam of 2.8%. Comparing the results obtained with the proposed formalism and the primary standard measurements are on the order of 0.4% with a maximum difference of 1.0% in the 4 MeV beam. CONCLUSIONS The proposed formalism and the use of updated data for beam quality conversion factors improves the consistency of results obtained with different chamber types and improves the accuracy of reference dosimetry measurements. Moreover, it is simpler than the present formalism and will be straightforward to implement clinically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan R Muir
- NRC Metrology Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0R6, Canada
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Ververs JD, McEwen MR, Siebers JV. Quantitative ionization chamber alignment to a water surface: Performance of multiple chambers. Med Phys 2017; 44:3839-3847. [PMID: 28477371 DOI: 10.1002/mp.12315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2016] [Revised: 03/12/2017] [Accepted: 04/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to experimentally examine the reliability of the gradient chamber alignment point (gCAP) determination method for accurately identifying water surface location with a range of ionization chambers (ICs). MATERIALS AND METHODS Twelve cylindrical ICs were scanned from depth through a water surface into air using a customized high-accuracy scanning system which allows for accurate alignment of the IC with respect to the true water surface. Thirteen other cylindrical ICs and five parallel-plate ICs were scanned using a standard commercially available scanning system. The thirty different ICs used in this study represent 22 different IC models. Measurements were taken with different radiation field parameters such as incident photon beam energies and field sizes. The effects of scan direction and water surface tension were also investigated. The depth at which the gradient of the relative ionization was maximized and discontinuous, the gCAP, was found for each curve. Each measured gCAP depth was compared with the theoretically expected gCAP location, the depth at which the submerged IC outer radius (OR) coincides with the water surface. RESULTS When scanning an IC from in water to air, the only parameter that affects the gCAP location is the IC OR. The gCAP location corresponds with the IC central axis positioned at a depth equal to the IC OR within the 0.1 mm measurement scan resolution for all eighteen ICs studied with the commercially available system. Using the customized scanning system, all but three ICs were identified exhibiting a gCAP within the scan resolution, with the other three within 0.25 mm of the expected location. This discrepancy was not observed in the same IC model when using the conventional scanning system. Altering the beam energy from 6 to 25 MV did not alter the gCAP location, nor did variations in the radiation field size or scan parameters. In-air IC response is proportional to the IC wall thickness. CONCLUSION The water-to-air scanning method coupled with gCAP analysis identifies the alignment of the IC OR to the water surface within the scanning resolution for all ICs studied. The gCAP method can precisely and reproducibly align the physical center of a given cylindrical IC with the water surface, be applied prospectively or retrospectively, and provides the prospect for automated water surface identification for scanning systems. The gCAP method eliminates the visual subjectivity inherent to current IC-to-water surface alignment techniques, has been validated with a wide variety of commercially available ICs, and should be independent of the scanning system used for data acquisition.
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Affiliation(s)
- James D Ververs
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Winston Salem, NC, 27157, USA.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA
| | - Malcolm R McEwen
- Ionizing Radiation Standards, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A OR6, Canada
| | - Jeffrey V Siebers
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA.,Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
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Renaud J, Sarfehnia A, Marchant K, McEwen M, Ross C, Seuntjens J. Direct measurement of electron beam quality conversion factors using water calorimetry. Med Phys 2015; 42:6357-68. [DOI: 10.1118/1.4931970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- James Renaud
- Medical Physics Unit, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3G 1A4, Canada
| | - Arman Sarfehnia
- Medical Physics Unit, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3G 1A4, Canada and Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E2, Canada
| | - Kristin Marchant
- Allan Blair Cancer Centre, Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, Regina, Saskatchewan S4T 7T1, Canada and Department of Oncology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5A1, Canada
| | - Malcolm McEwen
- Ionizing Radiation Standards, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R6, Canada
| | - Carl Ross
- Ionizing Radiation Standards, National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R6, Canada
| | - Jan Seuntjens
- Medical Physics Unit, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3G 1A4, Canada
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Bailey M, Shipley DR, Manning JW. Roos and NACP-02 ion chamber perturbations and water-air stopping-power ratios for clinical electron beams for energies from 4 to 22 MeV. Phys Med Biol 2015; 60:1087-105. [PMID: 25586026 DOI: 10.1088/0031-9155/60/3/1087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Empirical fits are developed for depth-compensated wall- and cavity-replacement perturbations in the PTW Roos 34001 and IBA / Scanditronix NACP-02 parallel-plate ionisation chambers, for electron beam qualities from 4 to 22 MeV for depths up to approximately 1.1 × R₅₀,D. These are based on calculations using the Monte Carlo radiation transport code EGSnrc and its user codes with a full simulation of the linac treatment head modelled using BEAMnrc. These fits are used with calculated restricted stopping-power ratios between air and water to match measured depth-dose distributions in water from an Elekta Synergy clinical linear accelerator at the UK National Physical Laboratory. Results compare well with those from recent publications and from the IPEM 2003 electron beam radiotherapy Code of Practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Bailey
- Radiation Dosimetry, National Physical Laboratory, Hampton Road, Teddington, Middlesex, TW11 0LW, UK
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Zink K, Czarnecki D, Looe HK, von Voigts-Rhetz P, Harder D. Monte Carlo study of the depth-dependent fluence perturbation in parallel-plate ionization chambers in electron beams. Med Phys 2014; 41:111707. [PMID: 25370621 DOI: 10.1118/1.4897389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The electron fluence inside a parallel-plate ionization chamber positioned in a water phantom and exposed to a clinical electron beam deviates from the unperturbed fluence in water in absence of the chamber. One reason for the fluence perturbation is the well-known "inscattering effect," whose physical cause is the lack of electron scattering in the gas-filled cavity. Correction factors determined to correct for this effect have long been recommended. However, more recent Monte Carlo calculations have led to some doubt about the range of validity of these corrections. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to reanalyze the development of the fluence perturbation with depth and to review the function of the guard rings. METHODS Spatially resolved Monte Carlo simulations of the dose profiles within gas-filled cavities with various radii in clinical electron beams have been performed in order to determine the radial variation of the fluence perturbation in a coin-shaped cavity, to study the influences of the radius of the collecting electrode and of the width of the guard ring upon the indicated value of the ionization chamber formed by the cavity, and to investigate the development of the perturbation as a function of the depth in an electron-irradiated phantom. The simulations were performed for a primary electron energy of 6 MeV. RESULTS The Monte Carlo simulations clearly demonstrated a surprisingly large in- and outward electron transport across the lateral cavity boundary. This results in a strong influence of the depth-dependent development of the electron field in the surrounding medium upon the chamber reading. In the buildup region of the depth-dose curve, the in-out balance of the electron fluence is positive and shows the well-known dose oscillation near the cavity/water boundary. At the depth of the dose maximum the in-out balance is equilibrated, and in the falling part of the depth-dose curve it is negative, as shown here the first time. The influences of both the collecting electrode radius and the width of the guard ring are reflecting the deep radial penetration of the electron transport processes into the gas-filled cavities and the need for appropriate corrections of the chamber reading. New values for these corrections have been established in two forms, one converting the indicated value into the absorbed dose to water in the front plane of the chamber, the other converting it into the absorbed dose to water at the depth of the effective point of measurement of the chamber. In the Appendix, the in-out imbalance of electron transport across the lateral cavity boundary is demonstrated in the approximation of classical small-angle multiple scattering theory. CONCLUSIONS The in-out electron transport imbalance at the lateral boundaries of parallel-plate chambers in electron beams has been studied with Monte Carlo simulation over a range of depth in water, and new correction factors, covering all depths and implementing the effective point of measurement concept, have been developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Zink
- Institute of Medical Physics and Radiation Protection (IMPS), University of Applied Sciences Giessen, Giessen D-35390, Germany and Department of Radiotherapy and Radiooncology, University Medical Center Giessen-Marburg, Marburg D-35043, Germany
| | - D Czarnecki
- Institute of Medical Physics and Radiation Protection (IMPS), University of Applied Sciences Giessen, Giessen D-35390, Germany
| | - H K Looe
- Clinic for Radiation Therapy, Pius-Hospital, Oldenburg D-26129, Germany and WG Medical Radiation Physics, Carl von Ossietzky University, Oldenburg D-26129, Germany
| | - P von Voigts-Rhetz
- Institute of Medical Physics and Radiation Protection (IMPS), University of Applied Sciences Giessen, Giessen D-35390, Germany
| | - D Harder
- Prof. em., Medical Physics and Biophysics, Georg August University, Göttingen D-37073, Germany
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Muir BR, Rogers DWO. Monte Carlo calculations of electron beam quality conversion factors for several ion chamber types. Med Phys 2014; 41:111701. [DOI: 10.1118/1.4893915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
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10
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Francescon P, Beddar S, Satariano N, Das IJ. Variation of kQclin,Qmsr (fclin,fmsr) for the small-field dosimetric parameters percentage depth dose, tissue-maximum ratio, and off-axis ratio. Med Phys 2014; 41:101708. [PMID: 25281947 PMCID: PMC5175987 DOI: 10.1118/1.4895978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2014] [Revised: 08/25/2014] [Accepted: 08/31/2014] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Evaluate the ability of different dosimeters to correctly measure the dosimetric parameters percentage depth dose (PDD), tissue-maximum ratio (TMR), and off-axis ratio (OAR) in water for small fields. METHODS Monte Carlo (MC) simulations were used to estimate the variation of kQclin,Qmsr (fclin,fmsr) for several types of microdetectors as a function of depth and distance from the central axis for PDD, TMR, and OAR measurements. The variation of kQclin,Qmsr (fclin,fmsr) enables one to evaluate the ability of a detector to reproduce the PDD, TMR, and OAR in water and consequently determine whether it is necessary to apply correction factors. The correctness of the simulations was verified by assessing the ratios between the PDDs and OARs of 5- and 25-mm circular collimators used with a linear accelerator measured with two different types of dosimeters (the PTW 60012 diode and PTW PinPoint 31014 microchamber) and the PDDs and the OARs measured with the Exradin W1 plastic scintillator detector (PSD) and comparing those ratios with the corresponding ratios predicted by the MC simulations. RESULTS MC simulations reproduced results with acceptable accuracy compared to the experimental results; therefore, MC simulations can be used to successfully predict the behavior of different dosimeters in small fields. The Exradin W1 PSD was the only dosimeter that reproduced the PDDs, TMRs, and OARs in water with high accuracy. With the exception of the EDGE diode, the stereotactic diodes reproduced the PDDs and the TMRs in water with a systematic error of less than 2% at depths of up to 25 cm; however, they produced OAR values that were significantly different from those in water, especially in the tail region (lower than 20% in some cases). The microchambers could be used for PDD measurements for fields greater than those produced using a 10-mm collimator. However, with the detector stem parallel to the beam axis, the microchambers could be used for TMR measurements for all field sizes. The microchambers could not be used for OAR measurements for small fields. CONCLUSIONS Compared with MC simulation, the Exradin W1 PSD can reproduce the PDDs, TMRs, and OARs in water with a high degree of accuracy; thus, the correction used for converting dose is very close to unity. The stereotactic diode is a viable alternative because it shows an acceptable systematic error in the measurement of PDDs and TMRs and a significant underestimation in only the tail region of the OAR measurements, where the dose is low and differences in dose may not be therapeutically meaningful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Francescon
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Ospedale Di Vicenza, Viale Rodolfi, Vicenza 36100, Italy
| | - Sam Beddar
- Department of Radiation Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77005
| | - Ninfa Satariano
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Ospedale Di Vicenza, Viale Rodolfi, Vicenza 36100, Italy
| | - Indra J Das
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
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Dosimetric perturbations at high-Z interfaces with high dose rate (192)Ir source. Phys Med 2014; 30:782-90. [PMID: 25008150 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2014.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2013] [Revised: 04/02/2014] [Accepted: 06/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate dose perturbations created by high-atomic number (Z) materials in high dose rate (HDR) Iridium-192 ((192)Ir) treatment region. METHODS AND MATERIALS A specially designed parallel plate ion chamber with 5 μm thick window was used to measure the dose rates from (192)Ir source downstream of the high-Z materials. A Monte Carlo (MC) code was employed to calculate the dose rates in both upstream and downstream of the high-Z interfaces at distances ranging from 0.01 to 2 mm. The dose perturbation factor (DPF) was defined as the ratio of dose rate with and without high-Z material in a water phantom. For verifying the Z dependence, both 0.1- and 1.0 mm-thick sheets of Pb, Au, Ta, Sn, Cu, Fe, Ti and Al were used. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS The DPF depends on the Z and thickness of layer. At the downstream of a 0.1 mm layer of Pb, Au, Ta, Sn, Cu, Fe, Ti and Al, the DPF by MC were 3.73, 3.42, 3.04, 1.71, 1.04, 0.98, 0.92, or 0.94 respectively. When Z is greater than or equal to 50, the MC and experimental results disagree significantly (>20%) due to large DPF gradient but are in agreement for Z less than or equal to 29. Thin layers of Z greater than or equal to 50 near a (192)Ir source in water produce significant dose perturbations (i.e. increases) in the vicinity of the medium-high-Z interfaces and may thus cause local over-dose in (192)Ir brachytherapy. Conversely, this effect may potentially be used to deliver locally higher doses to targeted tissue.
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von Voigts-Rhetz P, Czarnecki D, Zink K. Effective point of measurement for parallel plate and cylindrical ion chambers in megavoltage electron beams. Z Med Phys 2014; 24:216-23. [PMID: 24418322 DOI: 10.1016/j.zemedi.2013.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2013] [Revised: 12/02/2013] [Accepted: 12/02/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The presence of an air filled ionization chamber in a surrounding medium introduces several fluence perturbations in high energy photon and electron beams which have to be accounted for. One of these perturbations, the displacement effect, may be corrected in two different ways: by a correction factor pdis or by the application of the concept of the effective point of measurement (EPOM). The latter means, that the volume averaged ionization within the chamber is not reported to the chambers reference point but to a point within the air filled cavity. Within this study the EPOM was determined for four different parallel plate and two cylindrical chambers in megavoltage electron beams using Monte Carlo simulations. The positioning of the chambers with this EPOM at the depth of measurement results in a largely depth independent residual perturbation correction, which is determined within this study for the first time. For the parallel plate chambers the EPOM is independent of the energy of the primary electrons. Whereas for the Advanced Markus chamber the position of the EPOM coincides with the chambers reference point, it is shifted for the other parallel plate chambers several tenths of millimeters downstream the beam direction into the air filled cavity. For the cylindrical chambers there is an increasing shift of the EPOM with increasing electron energy. This shift is in upstream direction, i.e. away from the chambers reference point toward the focus. For the highest electron energy the position of the calculated EPOM is in fairly good agreement with the recommendation given in common dosimetry protocols, for the smallest energy, the calculated EPOM positions deviate about 30% from this recommendation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip von Voigts-Rhetz
- Institut für Medizinische Physik und Strahlenschutz - IMPS, Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen, University of Applied Sciences, Gießen, Germany.
| | - Damian Czarnecki
- Institut für Medizinische Physik und Strahlenschutz - IMPS, Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen, University of Applied Sciences, Gießen, Germany
| | - Klemens Zink
- Institut für Medizinische Physik und Strahlenschutz - IMPS, Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen, University of Applied Sciences, Gießen, Germany; University Hospital Marburg, Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, Philipps-University, Marburg, Germany
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Zink K, Wulff J. Beam quality corrections for parallel-plate ion chambers in electron reference dosimetry. Phys Med Biol 2012; 57:1831-54. [DOI: 10.1088/0031-9155/57/7/1831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Ono T, Araki F, Yoshiyama F. Possibility of using cylindrical ionization chambers for percent depth-dose measurements in clinical electron beams. Med Phys 2011; 38:4647-54. [DOI: 10.1118/1.3608903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
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