Abstract
Purpose: A modified convolution/superposition algorithm is proposed to compute dose from the kilovoltage beams used in IGRT. The algorithm uses material-specific energy deposition kernels instead of water-energy deposition kernels. Methods: Monte Carlo simulation was used to model the Elekta XVI unit and determine dose deposition characteristics of its kilovoltage beams. The dosimetric results were compared with ion chamber measurements. The dose from the kilovoltage beams was then computed using convolution/superposition along with material-specific energy deposition kernels and compared with Monte Carlo and measurements. The material-specific energy deposition kernels were previously generated using Monte Carlo. Results: The obtained gamma indices (using 2%/2mm criteria for 95% of points) were lower than 1 in almost all instances which indicates good agreement between simulated and measured depth doses and profiles. The comparisons of the algorithm with measurements in a homogeneous solid water slab phantom, and that with Monte Carlo in a head and neck CT dataset produced acceptable results. The calculated point doses were within 4.2% of measurements in the homogeneous phantom. Gamma analysis of the calculated vs. Monte Carlo simulations in the head and neck phantom resulted in 94% of points passing with a 2%/2mm criteria. Conclusions: The proposed method offers sufficient accuracy in kilovoltage beams dose calculations and has the potential to supplement the conventional megavoltage convolution/superposition algorithms for dose calculations in low energy range.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 54-61 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Physica Medica |
Volume | 96 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The authors would like to thank the staff of Shahid Beheshti University cluster. This work is partially supported by Iran National Science Foundation: INSF [grant number 97025338].
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022
Keywords
- Convolution/superposition algorithm
- Kilovoltage dosimetry
- Material-specific energy deposition kernels
- Monte Carlo simulation
- Radiotherapy Dosage
- Algorithms
- Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted/methods
- Computer Simulation
- Radiotherapy, Image-Guided
- Phantoms, Imaging
- Monte Carlo Method
- Radiometry/methods
PubMed: MeSH publication types
- Journal Article