Solid Water as phantom material for dosimetry of electron backscatter using low-energy electron beams: A Monte Carlo evaluation

Journal Article · Fri May 15 04:00:00 EDT 2009 · Medical Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1118/1.3110107· OSTI ID:22100498

Chow, James C. L.; Owrangi, Amir M. ^[1]

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1. Department of Radiation Physics, Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2M9 (Canada)

This study evaluated the dosimetry of electron backscatter when Solid Water is used to substitute water as phantom in electron radiotherapy. Monte Carlo simulation (EGSnrc-based code) was employed to predict electron energy spectra and depth doses for the 0.5 and 1 cm of Solid Water and water slabs above 3 mm of lead (Pb) layers using electron beams with energies of 4 and 6 MeV. For comparison, Monte Carlo simulations were repeated with Pb layers taken out from the phantoms using the same experimental configuration. Analyses on electron energy spectra for the 4 and 6 MeV electron beams showed that deviations of electron energy distributions between the Solid Water and water phantom were more significant in the high-energy range (i.e., close to the maximal electron energy) than the lower range corresponding to the electron backscatter. These deviations of electron energy spectra varied with depth and were mainly due to the electron fluence or beam attenuation. Dosimetry results from Monte Carlo simulations showed that the Solid Water phantom had lower depth dose compared to water with the same experimental setup. For the 4 MeV electron beams with 0.5 cm of Solid Water, depth doses were 1.8%-3.9% and 2.3%-4.4% lower than those in water, with and without the Pb layer underneath, respectively. Thicker Solid Water of 1 cm resulted in different decreases in depth doses of 1.8%-4.6% (with Pb) and 2.3%-4.4% (without Pb) compared to water. For higher nominal electron beam energy of 6 MeV with 0.5 cm of Solid Water, depth doses decreased 1.7%-2.9% (with Pb) and 1.6%-2.1% (without Pb) compared to water. These decreases in depth doses changed to 1.7%-3.7% (with Pb) and 1.7%-3% (without Pb) when the thickness of Solid Water was increased to 1 cm. The dosimetry data in this study are useful in determining the correction factor when using Solid Water to substitute water for the electron backscatter measurement in electron radiotherapy.

• OSTI ID: 22100498
• Journal Information: Medical Physics, Journal Name: Medical Physics Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 36; ISSN 0094-2405; ISSN MPHYA6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DEPTH DOSE DISTRIBUTIONS
ELECTRON BEAMS
ELECTRON DOSIMETRY
ELECTRONS
ENERGY SPECTRA
MEV RANGE 01-10
MONTE CARLO METHOD
PHANTOMS
RADIOTHERAPY
WATER