Evaluation of high-energy brachytherapy source electronic disequilibrium and dose from emitted electrons

Journal Article · Tue Sep 15 00:00:00 EDT 2009 · Medical Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1118/1.3194754· OSTI ID:22102093

Ballester, Facundo; Granero, Domingo; Perez-Calatayud, Jose; Melhus, Christopher S.; Rivard, Mark J. ^[1]

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1. Department of Atomic, Molecular and Nuclear Physics, University of Valencia, C/Dr. Moliner 50, E-46100 Burjassot (Spain) and IFIC, CSIC-University of Valencia, C/Dr. Moliner 50, E-46100 Burjassot (Spain)

Purpose: The region of electronic disequilibrium near photon-emitting brachytherapy sources of high-energy radionuclides ({sup 60}Co, {sup 137}Cs, {sup 192}Ir, and {sup 169}Yb) and contributions to total dose from emitted electrons were studied using the GEANT4 and PENELOPE Monte Carlo codes. Methods: Hypothetical sources with active and capsule materials mimicking those of actual sources but with spherical shape were examined. Dose contributions due to source photons, x rays, and bremsstrahlung; source {beta}{sup -}, Auger electrons, and internal conversion electrons; and water collisional kerma were scored. To determine if conclusions obtained for electronic equilibrium conditions and electron dose contribution to total dose for the representative spherical sources could be applied to actual sources, the {sup 192}Ir mHDR-v2 source model (Nucletron B.V., Veenendaal, The Netherlands) was simulated for comparison to spherical source results and to published data. Results: Electronic equilibrium within 1% is reached for {sup 60}Co, {sup 137}Cs, {sup 192}Ir, and {sup 169}Yb at distances greater than 7, 3.5, 2, and 1 mm from the source center, respectively, in agreement with other published studies. At 1 mm from the source center, the electron contributions to total dose are 1.9% and 9.4% for {sup 60}Co and {sup 192}Ir, respectively. Electron emissions become important (i.e., >0.5%) within 3.3 mm of {sup 60}Co and 1.7 mm of {sup 192}Ir sources, yet are negligible over all distances for {sup 137}Cs and {sup 169}Yb. Electronic equilibrium conditions along the transversal source axis for the mHDR-v2 source are comparable to those of the spherical sources while electron dose to total dose contribution are quite different. Conclusions: Electronic equilibrium conditions obtained for spherical sources could be generalized to actual sources while electron contribution to total dose depends strongly on source dimensions, material composition, and electron spectra.

• OSTI ID: 22102093
• Journal Information: Medical Physics, Vol. 36, Issue 9; Other Information: (c) 2009 American Association of Physicists in Medicine; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-2405
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
BRACHYTHERAPY
BREMSSTRAHLUNG
CESIUM 137
COBALT 60
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
ELECTRON EMISSION
ELECTRON SPECTRA
ELECTRONS
INTERNAL CONVERSION
IRIDIUM 192
MONTE CARLO METHOD
RADIATION DOSES
SPHERICAL CONFIGURATION
X RADIATION
YTTERBIUM 169