Influence of dose calculation algorithms on the helical diode array using volumetric-modulated arc therapy for small targets.

BACKGROUND: For patient-specific quality assurance (PSQA) for small targets, the dose resolution can change depending on the characteristics of the dose calculation algorithms. PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the dose calculation algorithms Acuros XB (AXB), anisotropic analytical algorithm (AAA), photon Monte Carlo (pMC), and collapsed cone (CC) on a helical diode array using volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for small targets. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ArcCHECK detectors were inserted with a physical depth of 2.9 cm from the surface. To evaluate the influence of the dose calculation algorithms for small targets, rectangular fields of 2×100, 5×100, 10×100, 20×100, 50×100, and 100×100 mm2 were irradiated and measured using ArcCHECK with TrueBeam STx. A total of 20 VMAT plans for small targets, including the clinical sites of 19 brain metastases and one spine, were also evaluated. The gamma passing rates (GPRs) were evaluated for the rectangular fields and the 20 VMAT plans using AXB, AAA, pMC, and CC. RESULTS: For rectangular fields of 2×100 and 5×100 mm2, the GPR at 3%/2 mm of AXB was < 50% because AXB resulted in a coarser dose resolution with narrow beams. For field sizes > 10×100 mm2, the GPR at 3%/2 mm was > 88.1% and comparable for all dose calculation algorithms. For the 20 VMAT plans, the GPRs at 3%/2 mm were 79.1 ± 15.7%, 93.2 ± 5.8%, 94.9 ± 4.1%, and 94.5 ± 4.1% for AXB, AAA, pMC, and CC, respectively. CONCLUSION: The behavior of the dose distribution on the helical diode array differed depending on the dose calculation algorithm for small targets. Measurements using ArcCHECK for VMAT with small targets can have lower GPRs owing to the coarse dose resolution of AXB around the detector area.

In Vivo Radiobiological Investigations with the TOP-IMPLART Proton Beam on a Medulloblastoma Mouse Model.

Protons are now increasingly used to treat pediatric medulloblastoma (MB) patients. We designed and characterized a setup to deliver proton beams for in vivo radiobiology experiments at a TOP-IMPLART facility, a prototype of a proton-therapy linear accelerator developed at the ENEA Frascati Research Center, with the goal of assessing the feasibility of TOP-IMPLART for small animal proton therapy research. Mice bearing Sonic-Hedgehog (Shh)-dependent MB in the flank were irradiated with protons to test whether irradiation could be restricted to a specific depth in the tumor tissue and to compare apoptosis induced by the same dose of protons or photons. In addition, the brains of neonatal mice at postnatal day 5 (P5), representing a very small target, were irradiated with 6 Gy of protons with two different collimated Spread-Out Bragg Peaks (SOBPs). Apoptosis was visualized by immunohistochemistry for the apoptotic marker caspase-3-activated, and quantified by Western blot. Our findings proved that protons could be delivered to the upper part while sparing the deepest part of MB. In addition, a comparison of the effectiveness of protons and photons revealed a very similar increase in the expression of cleaved caspase-3. Finally, by using a very small target, the brain of P5-neonatal mice, we demonstrated that the proton irradiation field reached the desired depth in brain tissue. Using the TOP-IMPLART accelerator we established setup and procedures for proton irradiation, suitable for translational preclinical studies. This is the first example of in vivo experiments performed with a "full-linac" proton-therapy accelerator.

Small field proton irradiation for in vivo studies: Potential and limitations when adapting clinical infrastructure.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the dosimetric accuracy for small field proton irradiation relevant for pre-clinical in vivo studies using clinical infrastructure and technology. In this context additional beam collimation and range reduction was implemented. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The clinical proton beam line employing pencil beam scanning (PBS) was adapted for the irradiation of small fields at shallow depths. Cylindrical collimators with apertures of 15, 12, 7 and 5mm as well as two different range shifter types, placed at different distances relative to the target, were tested: a bolus range shifter (BRS) attached to the collimator and a clinical nozzle mounted range shifter (CRS) placed at a distance of 72cm from the collimator. The Monte Carlo (MC) based dose calculation engine implemented in the clinical treatment planning system (TPS) was commissioned for these two additional hardware components. The study was conducted with a phantom and cylindrical target sizes between 2 and 25mm in diameter following a dosimetric end-to-end test concept. RESULTS: The setup with the CRS provided a uniform dose distribution across the target. An agreement of better than5% between the planned dose and the measurements was obtained for a target with 3mm diameter (collimator 5mm). A 2mm difference between the collimator and the target diameter (target being 2 mm smaller than the collimator) sufficed to cover the whole target with the planned dose in the setup with CRS. Using the BRS setup (target 8mm, collimator 12mm) resulted in non-homogeneous dose distributions, with a dose discrepancy of up to 10% between the planned and measured doses. CONCLUSION: The clinical proton infrastructure with adequate beam line adaptations and a state-of-the-art TPS based on MC dose calculations enables small animal irradiations with a high dosimetric precision and accuracy for target sizes down to 3mm.

High spatial resolution inorganic scintillator detector for high-energy X-ray beam at small field irradiation.

PURPOSE: Small field dosimetry for radiotherapy is one of the major challenges due to the size of most dosimeters, for example, sufficient spatial resolution, accurate dose distribution and energy dependency of the detector. In this context, the purpose of this research is to develop a small size scintillating detector targeting small field dosimetry and compare its performance with other commercial detectors. METHOD: An inorganic scintillator detector (ISD) of about 200 µm outer diameter was developed and tested through different small field dosimetric characterizations under high-energy photons (6 and 15 MV) delivered by an Elekta Linear Accelerator (LINAC). Percentage depth dose (PDD) and beam profile measurements were compared using dosimeters from PTW namely, microdiamond and PinPoint three-dimensional (PP3D) detector. A background fiber method has been considered to quantitate and eliminate the minimal Cerenkov effect from the total optical signal magnitude. Measurements were performed inside a water phantom under IAEA Technical Reports Series recommendations (IAEA TRS 381 and TRS 483). RESULTS: Small fields ranging from 3 × 3 cm2 , down to 0.5 × 0.5 cm2 were sequentially measured using the ISD and commercial dosimeters, and a good agreement was obtained among all measurements. The result also shows that, scintillating detector has good repeatability and reproducibility of the output signal with maximum deviation of 0.26% and 0.5% respectively. The Full Width Half Maximum (FWHM) was measured 0.55 cm for the smallest available square size field of 0.5 × 0.5 cm2 , where the discrepancy of 0.05 cm is due to the scattering effects inside the water and convolution effect between field and detector geometries. Percentage depth dose factor dependence variation with water depth exhibits nearly the same behavior for all tested detectors. The ISD allows to perform dose measurements at a very high accuracy from low (50 cGy/min) to high dose rates (800 cGy/min) and was found to be independent of dose rate variation. The detection system also showed an excellent linearity with dose; hence, calibration was easily achieved. CONCLUSIONS: The developed detector can be used to accurately measure the delivered dose at small fields during the treatment of small volume tumors. The author's measurement shows that despite using a nonwater-equivalent detector, the detector can be a powerful candidate for beam characterization and quality assurance in, for example, radiosurgery, Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT), and brachytherapy. Our detector can provide real-time dose measurement and good spatial resolution with immediate readout, simplicity, flexibility, and robustness.

Radiation method and result of TBI: Analysis of 450 Cases / 中华放射肿瘤学杂志

Objective To evaluate the radiation method and resuh of 450 patients received TBI(total body irradiation).Methods Single-dose Measurement was used to mark dose of TLD(thermo luminescence dosimeter).The values of actual dose in body midline were evaluated by calculating and correcting mean dose of incidence and emergence.Radiation methods:In four-field Irradiation.diagonals of fields coinside with the longitudinal axis of the patients,patient in supine and lateral positions received two pairs of parallel opposite radiation.Scheme of TBI came from a preparative radiation about one week before,and this four-field and equal-in-dose(about 10%of TBI)preparative radiation offered US the optimal scheme with aminimal dose non-uniformity by adjusting different dose proportion of supine and lateral position.In small field irradiation,patients received one pair of parallel opposite radiation from lateral side sitting on a special stool with backrest,the stool can be rotated CW or CCW,pedals can be move forward or backward and fixed.In opposite lateral irradiation,similar to four-field irradiation,patients received one pair of horizontal opposite radiation only in supine position.Five of these patients received FTBI(Fractional TBI). Results The average non-uniformity in midline of patients in four-field irradiation group(87 patients).small field irradiation group(91patients)and opposite lateral irradiation group(272 patients)is respectively ±8.1%,±7.4% and ±4.9%. Conclusions It iS a important process for QA and Qc to measure the dose of incidence and emergence real-timely with TLD or semiconductor dosimeter.We can adopt small field irradiation when the field iS not large enough to contain the patient from head to foot,and it showed advantages over four-field irradiation in treatment process and outcomes.We found the uniformity in body midline would be much better in supine position with diagonal＞180 cm than that in four-field irradiation and small field irradiation with diagonal＜110 cm.We compared supine position irradiation with opposite lateral irradiation,only to find which has its strong point.And actually we considered that FTBI treatment booth can be used more often in anterior and posterior parallel fields irradiation,patient semi-sitted,repeatedly received forward and backward radiation. In spit of not possessing radio-biological advantages as FTBI,STBI(Single TBI)is still a practical form of TBI.

Measurement of Dose Distribution in Small Beams of Philips 6 and 8 MVX Linear Accelerator / 대한치료방사선과학회지

The work suggested in this paper addresses a method for collecting beam data for small circular fields. Beam data were obtained from Philips 6 and 8 MV LINAC at Dept. Radiation Therapy at Gainesville Incorporated and Shands Teaching Hospital. Specific quantities measured include tissue maximum ratio (TMR), off-axis ration (OAR) and relative output factor (ROF). In small field irradiation, special collimators were used to produce circular fields of 1 cm to 3 cm diameter in 2 mm steps, measured at SAD (soura axis distance) of 100 cm. Diode detector was chosen for primary beam measurement and compared with measurements made with photographic film and TLD dosimeters. The measured TMRs and OARs were formulated from limited measurements to generate basic beam data for reference set-up. The empirical formula were later, extended and generalized for any possible set-up using the trends of fitting parameters. The measured TMRs and OARs were well represented by the fitting formula developed.