ABSTRACT
The Fletcher Suit Delclos (FSD) ovoids employed in intracavitary brachytherapy (ICB) for cervical cancer contain shields to reduce dose to the bladder and rectum. Many treatment planning systems (TPS) do not include the shields and other ovoid structures in the dose calculation. Instead, TPSs calculate dose by summing the dose contributions from the individual sources and ignoring ovoid structures such as the shields. The goal of this work was to calculate the dose distribution with Monte Carlo around a Selectron FSD ovoid and compare these calculations with radiochromic film (RCF) and normoxic polymer gel dosimetry. Monte Carlo calculations were performed with MCNPX 2.5.c for a single Selectron FSD ovoid with and without shields. RCF measurements were performed in a plane parallel to and displaced laterally 1.25 cm from the long axis of the ovoid. MAGIC gel measurements were performed in a polymethylmethacrylate phantom. RCF and MAGIC gel were irradiated with four 33 microGy m2 h(-1) Cs-137 pellets for a period of 24 h. Results indicated that MCNPX calculated dose to within +/- 2% or 2 mm for 98% of points compared with RCF measurements and to within +/- 3% or 3 mm for 98% of points compared with MAGIC gel measurements. It is concluded that MCNPX 2.5.c can calculate dose accurately in the presence of the ovoid shields, that RCF and MAGIC gel can demonstrate the effect of ovoid shields on the dose distribution and the ovoid shields reduce the dose by as much as 50%.
Subject(s)
Brachytherapy/instrumentation , Radiation Protection/instrumentation , Radiometry/methods , Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted/methods , Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Brachytherapy/methods , Equipment Design , Equipment Failure Analysis , Female , Film Dosimetry , Gels/radiation effects , Humans , Monte Carlo Method , Polymers/radiation effects , Radiation Injuries/prevention & control , Radiation Protection/methods , Radiotherapy Dosage , Reproducibility of Results , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
The Fletcher Suit Delclos (FSD) ovoids employed in intracavitary brachytherapy (ICB) for cervical cancer contain shields to reduce dose to the bladder and rectum. Many treatment planning systems (TPS) do not include the shields and other ovoid structures in the dose calculation. Instead, TPSs calculate dose by summing the dose contributions from the individual sources and ignoring ovoid structures such as the shields. The goal of this work was to calculate the dose distribution with Monte Carlo around a Selectron FSD ovoid and compare these calculations with radiochromic film (RCF) and normoxic polymer gel dosimetry. Monte Carlo calculations were performed with MCNPX 2.5.c for a single Selectron FSD ovoid with and without shields. RCF measurements were performed in a plane parallel to and displaced laterally 1.25 cm from the long axis of the ovoid. MAGIC gel measurements were performed in a polymethylmethacrylate phantom. RCF and MAGIC gel were irradiated with four 33µGym2h-1 Cs-137 pellets for a period of 24 h. Results indicated that MCNPX calculated dose to within ±2% or 2 mm for 98% of points compared with RCF measurements and to within ±3% or 3 mm for 98% of points compared with MAGIC gel measurements. It is concluded that MCNPX 2.5.c can calculate dose accurately in the presence of the ovoid shields, that RCF and MAGIC gel can demonstrate the effect of ovoid shields on the dose distribution and the ovoid shields reduce the dose by as much as 50%.
