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Author Valdes-Cortez, C.; Niatsetski, Y.; Perez-Calatayud, J.; Ballester, F.; Vijande, J. doi  openurl
  Title A Monte Carlo study of the relative biological effectiveness in surface brachytherapy Type Journal Article
  Year 2022 Publication Medical Physics Abbreviated Journal Med. Phys.  
  Volume 49 Issue (up) Pages 5576-5588  
  Keywords Monte Carlo; relative biological effectiveness; surface HDR brachytherapy  
  Abstract Purpose This work aims to simulate clustered DNA damage from ionizing radiation and estimate the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) for radionuclide (rBT)- and electronic (eBT)-based surface brachytherapy through a hybrid Monte Carlo (MC) approach, using realistic models of the sources and applicators. Methods Damage from ionizing radiation has been studied using the Monte Carlo Damage Simulation algorithm using as input the primary electron fluence simulated using a state-of-the-art MC code, PENELOPE-2018. Two Ir-192 rBT applicators, Valencia and Leipzig, one Co-60 source with a Freiburg Flap applicator (reference source), and two eBT systems, Esteya and INTRABEAM, have been included in this study implementing full realizations of their geometries as disclosed by the manufacturer. The role played by filtration and tube kilovoltage has also been addressed. Results For rBT, an RBE value of about 1.01 has been found for the applicators and phantoms considered. In the case of eBT, RBE values for the Esteya system show an almost constant RBE value of about 1.06 for all depths and materials. For INTRABEAM, variations in the range of 1.12-1.06 are reported depending on phantom composition and depth. Modifications in the Esteya system, filtration, and tube kilovoltage give rise to variations in the same range. Conclusions Current clinical practice does not incorporate biological effects in surface brachytherapy. Therefore, the same absorbed dose is administered to the patients independently on the particularities of the rBT or eBT system considered. The almost constant RBE values reported for rBT support that assumption regardless of the details of the patient geometry, the presence of a flattening filter in the applicator design, or even significant modifications in the photon energy spectra above 300 keV. That is not the case for eBT, where a clear dependence on the eBT system and the characteristics of the patient geometry are reported. A complete study specific for each eBT system, including detailed applicator characteristics (size, shape, filtering, among others) and common anatomical locations, should be performed before adopting an existing RBE value.  
  Address [Valdes-Cortez, Christian] Hosp Reg Antofagasta, Nucl Med Dept, Antofagasta, Chile, Email: cvalcort@gmail.com  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Wiley Place of Publication Editor  
  Language English Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0094-2405 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes WOS:000811709400001 Approved no  
  Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes  
  Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 5262  
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Author Assam, I.; Vijande, J.; Ballester, F.; Perez-Calatayud, J.; Poppe, B.; Siebert, F.A. doi  openurl
  Title Evaluation of dosimetric effects of metallic artifact reduction and tissue assignment on Monte Carlo dose calculations for I-125 prostate implants Type Journal Article
  Year 2022 Publication Medical Physics Abbreviated Journal Med. Phys.  
  Volume 49 Issue (up) Pages 6195-6208  
  Keywords metallic artifact reduction; Monte Carlo dosimetry; post-implant CT; prostate brachytherapy; tissue assignment schemes; voxelized virtual patient model  
  Abstract Purpose Monte Carlo (MC) simulation studies, aimed at evaluating the magnitude of tissue heterogeneity in I-125 prostate permanent seed implant brachytherapy (BT), customarily use clinical post-implant CT images to generate a virtual representation of a realistic patient model (virtual patient model). Metallic artifact reduction (MAR) techniques and tissue assignment schemes (TAS) are implemented on the post-implant CT images to mollify metallic artifacts due to BT seeds and to assign tissue types to the voxels corresponding to the bright seed spots and streaking artifacts, respectively. The objective of this study is to assess the combined influence of MAR and TAS on MC absorbed dose calculations in post-implant CT-based phantoms. The virtual patient models used for I-125 prostate implant MC absorbed dose calculations in this study are derived from the CT images of an external radiotherapy prostate patient without BT seeds and prostatic calcifications, thus averting the need to implement MAR and TAS. Methods The geometry of the IsoSeed I25.S17plus source is validated by comparing the MC calculated results of the TG-43 parameters for the line source approximation with the TG-43U1S2 consensus data. Four MC absorbed dose calculations are performed in two virtual patient models using the egs_brachy MC code: (1) TG-43-based D-w,w-TG(43), (2) D-w,D-w-MBDC that accounts for interseed scattering and attenuation (ISA), (3) D-m,D-m that examines ISA and tissue heterogeneity by scoring absorbed dose in tissue, and (4) D-w,D-m that unlike D-m,D-m scores absorbed dose in water. The MC absorbed doses (1) and (2) are simulated in a TG-43 patient phantom derived by assigning the densities of every voxel to 1.00 g cm(-3) (water), whereas MC absorbed doses (3) and (4) are scored in the TG-186 patient phantom generated by mapping the mass density of each voxel to tissue according to a CT calibration curve. The MC absorbed doses calculated in this study are compared with VariSeed v8.0 calculated absorbed doses. To evaluate the dosimetric effect of MAR and TAS, the MC absorbed doses of this work (independent of MAR and TAS) are compared to the MC absorbed doses of different I-125 source models from previous studies that were calculated with different MC codes using post-implant CT-based phantoms generated by implementing MAR and TAS on post-implant CT images. Results The very good agreement of TG-43 parameters of this study and the published consensus data within 3% validates the geometry of the IsoSeed I25.S17plus source. For the clinical studies, the TG-43-based calculations show a D-90 overestimation of more than 4% compared to the more realistic MC methods due to ISA and tissue composition. The results of this work generally show few discrepancies with the post-implant CT-based dosimetry studies with respect to the D-90 absorbed dose metric parameter. These discrepancies are mainly Type B uncertainties due to the different I-125 source models and MC codes. Conclusions The implementation of MAR and TAS on post-implant CT images have no dosimetric effect on the I-125 prostate MC absorbed dose calculation in post-implant CT-based phantoms.  
  Address [Assam, Isong; Siebert, Frank-Andre] UKSH, Clin Radiotherapy Radiooncol, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany, Email: Isong.Assam@uksh.de  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Wiley Place of Publication Editor  
  Language English Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0094-2405 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes WOS:000835807200001 Approved no  
  Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes  
  Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 5321  
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Author Fletcher, E.M.; Ballester, F.; Beaulieu, L.; Morrison, H.; Poher, A.; Rivard, M.J.; Sloboda, R.S.; Vijande, J.; Thomson, R.M. doi  openurl
  Title Generation and comparison of 3D dosimetric reference datasets for COMS eye plaque brachytherapy using model-based dose calculations Type Journal Article
  Year 2024 Publication Medical Physics Abbreviated Journal Med. Phys.  
  Volume 51 Issue (up) Pages 694-706  
  Keywords Monte Carlo; ocular brachytherapy; treatment planning  
  Abstract PurposeA joint Working Group of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO), and the Australasian Brachytherapy Group (ABG) was created to aid in the transition from the AAPM TG-43 dose calculation formalism, the current standard, to model-based dose calculations. This work establishes the first test cases for low-energy photon-emitting brachytherapy using model-based dose calculation algorithms (MBDCAs).Acquisition and Validation MethodsFive test cases are developed: (1) a single model 6711 125I brachytherapy seed in water, 13 seeds (2) individually and (3) in combination in water, (4) the full Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study (COMS) 16-mm eye plaque in water, and (5) the full plaque in a realistic eye phantom. Calculations are done with four Monte Carlo (MC) codes and a research version of a commercial treatment planning system (TPS). For all test cases, local agreement of MC codes was within & SIM;2.5% and global agreement was & SIM;2% (4% for test case 5). MC agreement was within expected uncertainties. Local agreement of TPS with MC was within 5% for test case 1 and & SIM;20% for test cases 4 and 5, and global agreement was within 0.4% for test case 1 and 10% for test cases 4 and 5.Data Format and Usage NotesDose distributions for each set of MC and TPS calculations are available online () along with input files and all other information necessary to repeat the calculations.Potential ApplicationsThese data can be used to support commissioning of MBDCAs for low-energy brachytherapy as recommended by TGs 186 and 221 and AAPM Report 372. This work additionally lays out a sample framework for the development of test cases that can be extended to other applications beyond eye plaque brachytherapy.  
  Address [Fletcher, Elizabeth M.; Thomson, Rowan M.] Carleton Univ, Phys Dept, Carleton Lab Radiotherapy Phys, Ottawa, ON, Canada, Email: rthomson@physics.carleton.ca  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Wiley Place of Publication Editor  
  Language English Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0094-2405 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes WOS:001058112300001 Approved no  
  Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes  
  Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 5632  
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Author Piriz, G.H.; Gonzalez-Sprinberg, G.A.; Ballester, F.; Vijande, J. doi  openurl
  Title Dosimetry of Large Field Valencia applicators for Cobalt-60-based brachytherapy Type Journal Article
  Year 2024 Publication Medical Physics Abbreviated Journal Med. Phys.  
  Volume Issue (up) Pages 5pp  
  Keywords dosimetry; Monte Carlo; skin brachytherapy; Valencia applicators  
  Abstract BackgroundNon-melanoma skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer and one of the main approaches is brachytherapy. For small lesions, the treatment of this cancer with brachytherapy can be done with two commercial applicators, one of these is the Large Field Valencia Applicators (LFVA).PurposeThe aim of this study is to test the capabilities of the LFVA to use clinically 60Co sources instead of the 192Ir ones. This study was designed for the same dwell positions and weights for both sources.MethodsThe Penelope Monte Carlo code was used to evaluate dose distribution in a water phantom when a 60Co source is considered. The LFVA design and the optimized dwell weights reported for the case of 192Ir are maintained with the only exception of the dwell weight of the central position, that was increased. 2D dose distributions, field flatness, symmetry and the leakage dose distribution around the applicator were calculated.ResultsWhen comparing the dose distributions of both sources, field flatness and symmetry remain unchanged. The only evident difference is an increase of the penumbra regions for all depths when using the 60Co source. Regarding leakage, the maximum dose within the air volume surrounding the applicator is in the order of 20% of the prescription dose for the 60Co source, but it decreases to less than 5% at about 1 cm distance.ConclusionsFlatness and symmetry remains unaltered as compared with 192Ir sources, while an increase in leakage has been observed. This proves the feasibility of using the LFVA in a larger range of clinical applications.  
  Address [Piriz, Gustavo H.; Gonzalez-Sprinberg, Gabriel A.] Univ Republica, Fac Sci, Med Phys Unit, Montevideo, Uruguay, Email: ghpiriz@gmail.com  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Wiley Place of Publication Editor  
  Language English Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0094-2405 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes WOS:001187737100001 Approved no  
  Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes  
  Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 6011  
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Author Granero, D.; Vijande, J.; Ballester, F.; Rivard, M.J. doi  openurl
  Title Dosimetry revisited for the HDR Ir-192 brachytherapy source model mHDR-v2 Type Journal Article
  Year 2011 Publication Medical Physics Abbreviated Journal Med. Phys.  
  Volume 38 Issue (up) 1 Pages 487-494  
  Keywords Ir-192; brachytherapy; dosimetry; TG-43; PSS model; MCNP5; PENELOPE2008; GEANT4  
  Abstract Purpose: Recently, the manufacturer of the HDR Ir-192 mHDR-v2 brachytherapy source reported small design changes (referred to herein as mHDR-v2r) that are within the manufacturing tolerances but may alter the existing dosimetric data for this source. This study aimed to (1) check whether these changes affect the existing dosimetric data published for this source; (2) obtain new dosimetric data in close proximity to the source, including the contributions from 192Ir electrons and considering the absence of electronic equilibrium; and (3) obtain scatter dose components for collapsed cone treatment planning system implementation. Methods: Three different Monte Carlo (MC) radiation transport codes were used: MCNP5, PENELOPE2008, and GEANT4. The source was centrally positioned in a 40 cm radius water phantom. Absorbed dose and collision kerma were obtained using 0.1 mm (0.5 mm) thick voxels to provide high-resolution dosimetry near (far from) the source. Dose-rate distributions obtained with the three MC codes were compared. Results: Simulations of mHDR-v2 and mHDR-v2r designs performed with three radiation transport codes showed agreement typically within 0.2% for r >= 0.25 cm. Dosimetric contributions from source electrons were significant for r<0.25 cm. The dose-rate constant and radial dose function were similar to those from previous MC studies of the mHDR-v2 design. The 2D anisotropy function also coincided with that of the mHDR-v2 design for r >= 0.25 cm. Detailed results of dose distributions and scatter components are presented for the modified source design. Conclusions: Comparison of these results to prior MC studies showed agreement typically within 0.5% for r >= 0.25 cm. If dosimetric data for r<0.25 cm are not needed, dosimetric results from the prior MC studies will be adequate. c 2011 American Association of Physicists in Medicine.  
  Address [Granero, Domingo] Hosp Gen Univ, Dept Radiat Phys, ERESA, E-46014 Valencia, Spain, Email: dgranero@eresa.com  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Amer Assoc Physicists Medicine Amer Inst Physics Place of Publication Editor  
  Language English Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0094-2405 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes ISI:000285769800050 Approved no  
  Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes  
  Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 557  
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Author Aguiar, P.; Rafecas, M.; Ortuño, J.E.; Kontaxakis, G.; Santos, A.; Pavia, J.; Rosetti, M. doi  openurl
  Title Geometrical and Monte Carlo projectors in 3D PET reconstruction Type Journal Article
  Year 2010 Publication Medical Physics Abbreviated Journal Med. Phys.  
  Volume 37 Issue (up) 11 Pages 5691-5702  
  Keywords 3D PET; iterative reconstruction; list-mode reconstruction; ray-tracing techniques; Monte Carlo simulation; system response matrix  
  Abstract Purpose: In the present work, the authors compare geometrical and Monte Carlo projectors in detail. The geometrical projectors considered were the conventional geometrical Siddon ray-tracer (S-RT) and the orthogonal distance-based ray-tracer (OD-RT), based on computing the orthogonal distance from the center of image voxel to the line-of-response. A comparison of these geometrical projectors was performed using different point spread function (PSF) models. The Monte Carlo-based method under consideration involves an extensive model of the system response matrix based on Monte Carlo simulations and is computed off-line and stored on disk. Methods: Comparisons were performed using simulated and experimental data of the commercial small animal PET scanner rPET. Results: The results demonstrate that the orthogonal distance-based ray-tracer and Siddon ray-tracer using PSF image-space convolutions yield better images in terms of contrast and spatial resolution than those obtained after using the conventional method and the multiray-based S-RT. Furthermore, the Monte Carlo-based method yields slight improvements in terms of contrast and spatial resolution with respect to these geometrical projectors. Conclusions: The orthogonal distance-based ray-tracer and Siddon ray-tracer using PSF image-space convolutions represent satisfactory alternatives to factorizing the system matrix or to the conventional on-the-fly ray-tracing methods for list-mode reconstruction, where an extensive modeling based on Monte Carlo simulations is unfeasible.  
  Address [Aguiar, Pablo] Univ Santiago de Compostela, Dept Fis Particulas, Complexo Hosp Univ Santiago de Compostela, Fdn IDICHUS IDIS, Santiago De Compostela, Spain, Email: pablo.aguiar.fernandez@sergas.es  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Amer Assoc Physicists Medicine Amer Inst Physics Place of Publication Editor  
  Language English Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0094-2405 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes ISI:000283747600015 Approved no  
  Is ISI yes International Collaboration no  
  Call Number IFIC @ elepoucu @ Serial 338  
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Author Ma, Y.Z.; Vijande, J.; Ballester, F.; Tedgren, A.C.; Granero, D.; Haworth, A.; Mourtada, F.; Fonseca, G.P.; Zourari, K.; Papagiannis, P.; Rivard, M.J.; Siebert, F.A.; Sloboda, R.S.; Smith, R.; Chamberland, M.J.P.; Thomson, R.M.; Verhaegen, F.; Beaulieu, L. doi  openurl
  Title A generic TG-186 shielded applicator for commissioning model-based dose calculation algorithms for high-dose-rate Ir-192 brachytherapy Type Journal Article
  Year 2017 Publication Medical Physics Abbreviated Journal Med. Phys.  
  Volume 44 Issue (up) 11 Pages 5961-5976  
  Keywords Ir-192; HDR brachytherapy; model based dose calculation; Monte Carlo methods; shielded applicator; TG-186  
  Abstract PurposeA joint working group was created by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO), and the Australasian Brachytherapy Group (ABG) with the charge, among others, to develop a set of well-defined test case plans and perform calculations and comparisons with model-based dose calculation algorithms (MBDCAs). Its main goal is to facilitate a smooth transition from the AAPM Task Group No. 43 (TG-43) dose calculation formalism, widely being used in clinical practice for brachytherapy, to the one proposed by Task Group No. 186 (TG-186) for MBDCAs. To do so, in this work a hypothetical, generic high-dose rate (HDR) Ir-192 shielded applicator has been designed and benchmarked. MethodsA generic HDR Ir-192 shielded applicator was designed based on three commercially available gynecological applicators as well as a virtual cubic water phantom that can be imported into any DICOM-RT compatible treatment planning system (TPS). The absorbed dose distribution around the applicator with the TG-186 Ir-192 source located at one dwell position at its center was computed using two commercial TPSs incorporating MBDCAs (Oncentra((R)) Brachy with Advanced Collapsed-cone Engine, ACE, and BrachyVision ACUROS) and state-of-the-art Monte Carlo (MC) codes, including ALGEBRA, BrachyDose, egs_brachy, Geant4, MCNP6, and Penelope2008. TPS-based volumetric dose distributions for the previously reported source centered in water and source displaced test cases, and the new source centered in applicator test case, were analyzed here using the MCNP6 dose distribution as a reference. Volumetric dose comparisons of TPS results against results for the other MC codes were also performed. Distributions of local and global dose difference ratios are reported. ResultsThe local dose differences among MC codes are comparable to the statistical uncertainties of the reference datasets for the source centered in water and source displaced test cases and for the clinically relevant part of the unshielded volume in the source centered in applicator case. Larger local differences appear in the shielded volume or at large distances. Considering clinically relevant regions, global dose differences are smaller than the local ones. The most disadvantageous case for the MBDCAs is the one including the shielded applicator. In this case, ACUROS agrees with MC within [-4.2%, +4.2%] for the majority of voxels (95%) while presenting dose differences within [-0.12%, +0.12%] of the dose at a clinically relevant reference point. For ACE, 95% of the total volume presents differences with respect to MC in the range [-1.7%, +0.4%] of the dose at the reference point. ConclusionsThe combination of the generic source and generic shielded applicator, together with the previously developed test cases and reference datasets (available in the Brachytherapy Source Registry), lay a solid foundation in supporting uniform commissioning procedures and direct comparisons among treatment planning systems for HDR Ir-192 brachytherapy.  
  Address [Ma, Yunzhi; Beaulieu, Luc] CHU Quebec, Dept Radio Oncol & Axe Oncol, Ctr Rech, Quebec City, PQ G1R 2J6, Canada, Email: yunzhi.Ma@crchuq.ulaval.ca  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Wiley Place of Publication Editor  
  Language English Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0094-2405 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes WOS:000414970800039 Approved no  
  Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes  
  Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 3370  
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Author Rivard, M.J.; Granero, D.; Perez-Calatayud, J.; Ballester, F. doi  openurl
  Title Influence of photon energy spectra from brachytherapy sources on Monte Carlo simulations of kerma and dose rates in water and air Type Journal Article
  Year 2010 Publication Medical Physics Abbreviated Journal Med. Phys.  
  Volume 37 Issue (up) 2 Pages 869-876  
  Keywords biomedical materials; brachytherapy; dosimetry; iodine; iridium; Monte Carlo methods; palladium; radioisotopes  
  Abstract Methods: For Ir-192, I-125, and Pd-103, the authors considered from two to five published spectra. Spherical sources approximating common brachytherapy sources were assessed. Kerma and dose results from GEANT4, MCNP5, and PENELOPE-2008 were compared for water and air. The dosimetric influence of Ir-192, I-125, and Pd-103 spectral choice was determined. Results: For the spectra considered, there were no statistically significant differences between kerma or dose results based on Monte Carlo code choice when using the same spectrum. Water-kerma differences of about 2%, 2%, and 0.7% were observed due to spectrum choice for Ir-192, I-125, and Pd-103, respectively (independent of radial distance), when accounting for photon yield per Bq. Similar differences were observed for air-kerma rate. However, their ratio (as used in the dose-rate constant) did not significantly change when the various photon spectra were selected because the differences compensated each other when dividing dose rate by air-kerma strength. Conclusions: Given the standardization of radionuclide data available from the National Nuclear Data Center (NNDC) and the rigorous infrastructure for performing and maintaining the data set evaluations, NNDC spectra are suggested for brachytherapy simulations in medical physics applications.  
  Address [Rivard, Mark J.] Tufts Univ, Sch Med, Dept Radiat Oncol, Boston, MA 02111 USA, Email: mrivard@tuftsmedicalcenter.org  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Amer Assoc Physicists Medicine Amer Inst Physics Place of Publication Editor  
  Language English Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0094-2405 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes ISI:000274075600048 Approved no  
  Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes  
  Call Number IFIC @ elepoucu @ Serial 504  
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Author Granero, D.; Perez-Calatayud, J.; Vijande, J.; Ballester, F.; Rivard, M.J. doi  openurl
  Title Limitations of the TG-43 formalism for skin high-dose-rate brachytherapy dose calculations Type Journal Article
  Year 2014 Publication Medical Physics Abbreviated Journal Med. Phys.  
  Volume 41 Issue (up) 2 Pages 021703 - 8pp  
  Keywords HDR; brachytherapy; skin; Monte Carlo; Geant4; Co-60; Ir-192; Yb-169  
  Abstract Purpose: In skin high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy, sources are located outside, in contact with, or implanted at some depth below the skin surface. Most treatment planning systems use the TG-43 formalism, which is based on single-source dose superposition within an infinite water medium without accounting for the true geometry in which conditions for scattered radiation are altered by the presence of air. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the dosimetric limitations of the TG-43 formalism in HDR skin brachytherapy and the potential clinical impact. Methods: Dose rate distributions of typical configurations used in skin brachytherapy were obtained: a 5 cm x 5 cm superficial mould; a source inside a catheter located at the skin surface with and without backscatter bolus; and a typical interstitial implant consisting of an HDR source in a catheter located at a depth of 0.5 cm. Commercially available HDR Co-60 and Ir-192 sources and a hypothetical Yb-169 source were considered. The Geant4Monte Carlo radiation transport code was used to estimate dose rate distributions for the configurations considered. These results were then compared to those obtained with the TG-43 dose calculation formalism. In particular, the influence of adding bolus material over the implant was studied. Results: For a 5 cm x 5 cm Ir-192 superficial mould and 0.5 cm prescription depth, dose differences in comparison to the TG-43 method were about -3%. When the source was positioned at the skin surface, dose differences were smaller than -1% for Co-60 and Ir-192, yet -3% for Yb-169. For the interstitial implant, dose differences at the skin surface were -7% for Co-60, -0.6% for Ir-192, and -2.5% for Yb-169. Conclusions: This study indicates the following: (i) for the superficial mould, no bolus is needed; (ii) when the source is in contact with the skin surface, no bolus is needed for either Co-60 and Ir-192. For lower energy radionuclides like Yb-169, bolus may be needed; and (iii) for the interstitial case, at least a 0.1 cm bolus is advised for Co-60 to avoid underdosing superficial target layers. For Ir-192 and Yb-169, no bolus is needed. For those cases where no bolus is needed, its use might be detrimental as the lack of radiation scatter may be beneficial to the patient, although the 2% tolerance for dose calculation accuracy recommended in the AAPM TG-56 report is not fulfilled.  
  Address [Granero, Domingo] Hosp Gen Univ, ERESA, Dept Radiat Phys, Valencia 46014, Spain, Email: dgranero@eresa.com  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Amer Assoc Physicists Medicine Amer Inst Physics Place of Publication Editor  
  Language English Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0094-2405 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes WOS:000331213300006 Approved no  
  Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes  
  Call Number IFIC @ pastor @ Serial 1704  
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Author Ballester, F.; Granero, D.; Perez-Calatayud, J.; Venselaar, J.L.M.; Rivard, M.J. doi  openurl
  Title Study of encapsulated Tm-170 sources for their potential use in brachytherapy Type Journal Article
  Year 2010 Publication Medical Physics Abbreviated Journal Med. Phys.  
  Volume 37 Issue (up) 4 Pages 1629-1637  
  Keywords brachytherapy; cancer; dosimetry; prosthetics; radioisotopes; thulium  
  Abstract Methods: The authors have assumed a theoretical Tm-170 cylindrical source encapsulated with stainless steel and typical dimensions taken from the currently available HDR Ir-192 brachytherapy sources. The dose-rate distribution was calculated for this source using the GEANT4 Monte Carlo (MC) code considering both photon and electron Tm-170 spectra. The AAPM TG-43 U1 brachytherapy dosimetry parameters were derived. To study general properties of Tm-170 encapsulated sources, spherical sources encapsulated with stainless steel and platinum were also studied. Moreover, the influence of small variations in the active core and capsule dimensions on the dosimetric characteristics was assessed. Treatment times required for a Tm-170 source were compared to those for Ir-192 and Yb-169 for the same contained activity. Results: Due to the energetic beta spectrum and the large electron yield, the bremsstrahlung contribution to the dose was of the same order of magnitude as from the emitted gammas and characteristic x rays. Moreover, the electron spectrum contribution to the dose was significant up to 4 mm from the source center compared to the photon contribution. The dose-rate constant Lambda of the cylindrical source was 1.23 cGy h(-1) U-1. The behavior of the radial dose function showed promise for applications in brachytherapy. Due to the electron spectrum, the anisotropy was large for r < 6 mm. Variations in manufacturing tolerances did not significantly influence the final dosimetry data when expressed in cGy h(-1) U-1. For typical capsule dimensions, maximum reference dose rates of about 0.2, 10, and 2 Gy min(-1) would then be obtained for Tm-170, Ir-192, and Yb-169, respectively, resulting in treatment times greater than those for HDR Ir-192 brachytherapy. Conclusions: The dosimetric characteristics of source designs exploiting the low photon energy of Tm-170 were studied for potential application in HDR-brachytherapy. Dose-rate distributions were obtained for cylindrical and simplified spherical Tm-170 source designs (stainless steel and platinum capsule materials) using MC calculations. Despite the high activity of Tm-170, calculated treatment times were much longer than for Ir-192.  
  Address [Ballester, Facundo] Univ Valencia, Dept Atom Mol & Nucl Phys, E-46100 Burjassot, Spain, Email: fballest@uv.es  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Amer Assoc Physicists Medicine Amer Inst Physics Place of Publication Editor  
  Language English Summary Language Original Title  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0094-2405 ISBN Medium  
  Area Expedition Conference  
  Notes ISI:000276211200027 Approved no  
  Is ISI yes International Collaboration yes  
  Call Number IFIC @ elepoucu @ Serial 478  
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