Comparison of commercially available three-dimensional treatment planning algorithms for monitor unit calculations in the presence of heterogeneities.

This study uses an anthropomorphic phantom and its computed tomography (CT) data set to evaluate monitor unit (MU) calculations using the CMS Focus Clarkson, the CMS Focus Multigrid Superposition Model, the CMS Focus FFT Convolution Model, and the ADAC Pinnacle Collapsed Cone Convolution Superposition Algorithms. Using heterogeneity corrections, a treatment plan and corresponding MU calculations were generated for several typical clinical situations. A diode detector, placed in an anthropomorphic phantom, was used to compare the treatment planning algorithms' predicted doses with measured data. Differences between diode measurements and the algorithms' calculations were within reasonable levels of acceptability as recommended by Van Dyk et al. [Int. J. Rad. Onc. Biol. Phys. 26, 261-273 (1993)], except for the CMS Clarkson algorithm, which predicted too few MU for delivery of the intended dose to chest wall fields.

Dose uniformity from a computerized three-dimensional tissue compensating system.

A verification of dose uniformity of the Huestis Compu-Former, a three dimensional megavoltage tissue compensator, is presented. Tissue compensators were built for three different anthropomorphic phantoms: a head and neck, a mantle, and a breast. Film densitometry was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the tissue compensators by comparing isodose curves generated for a compensated and an uncompensated field. Evaluation of the isodose distributions for the three regions confirmed the use of the Compu-Former as a reliable tissue compensating system.