Monte Carlo calculations of correction factors for plastic phantoms in clinical photon and electron beam dosimetry

Journal Article · Wed Jul 15 04:00:00 EDT 2009 · Medical Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1118/1.3151809· OSTI ID:22100556

Araki, Fujio; Hanyu, Yuji; Fukuoka, Miyoko; Matsumoto, Kenji; Okumura, Masahiko; Oguchi, Hiroshi ^[1]

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1. Department of Radiological Technology, Kumamoto University School of Health Sciences, 4-24-1, Kuhonji, Kumamoto, 862-0976 (Japan)

The purpose of this study is to calculate correction factors for plastic water (PW) and plastic water diagnostic-therapy (PWDT) phantoms in clinical photon and electron beam dosimetry using the EGSnrc Monte Carlo code system. A water-to-plastic ionization conversion factor k{sub pl} for PW and PWDT was computed for several commonly used Farmer-type ionization chambers with different wall materials in the range of 4-18 MV photon beams. For electron beams, a depth-scaling factor c{sub pl} and a chamber-dependent fluence correction factor h{sub pl} for both phantoms were also calculated in combination with NACP-02 and Roos plane-parallel ionization chambers in the range of 4-18 MeV. The h{sub pl} values for the plane-parallel chambers were evaluated from the electron fluence correction factor {phi}{sub pl}{sup w} and wall correction factors P{sub wall,w} and P{sub wall,pl} for a combination of water or plastic materials. The calculated k{sub pl} and h{sub pl} values were verified by comparison with the measured values. A set of k{sub pl} values computed for the Farmer-type chambers was equal to unity within 0.5% for PW and PWDT in photon beams. The k{sub pl} values also agreed within their combined uncertainty with the measured data. For electron beams, the c{sub pl} values computed for PW and PWDT were from 0.998 to 1.000 and from 0.992 to 0.997, respectively, in the range of 4-18 MeV. The {phi}{sub pl}{sup w} values for PW and PWDT were from 0.998 to 1.001 and from 1.004 to 1.001, respectively, at a reference depth in the range of 4-18 MeV. The difference in P{sub wall} between water and plastic materials for the plane-parallel chambers was 0.8% at a maximum. Finally, h{sub pl} values evaluated for plastic materials were equal to unity within 0.6% for NACP-02 and Roos chambers. The h{sub pl} values also agreed within their combined uncertainty with the measured data. The absorbed dose to water from ionization chamber measurements in PW and PWDT plastic materials corresponds to that in water within 1%. Both phantoms can thus be used as a substitute for water for photon and electron dosimetry.

• OSTI ID: 22100556
• Journal Information: Medical Physics, Journal Name: Medical Physics Journal Issue: 7 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
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CORRECTIONS
ELECTRON BEAMS
ELECTRON DOSIMETRY
ELECTRONS
IONIZATION CHAMBERS
MEV RANGE 01-10
MEV RANGE 10-100
MONTE CARLO METHOD
PHANTOMS
PHOTON BEAMS
PHOTONS
RADIOTHERAPY
WATER