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MEDICAL PHYSICS IN <strong>THE</strong> BALTIC STATES 7 (2009)<br />

Proceedings of International Conference “Medical Physics 2009”<br />

8 - 10 October 2009, Kaunas, Lithuania<br />

MODELING <strong>OF</strong> FIELD PARAMETERS FOR DOSE VERIFICATION IN<br />

EXTERNAL BEAM RADIO<strong>THE</strong>RAPY<br />

Arturs MEIJERS*, Sergey POPOV*<br />

* Latvian Oncology Centre, Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital, Riga, Latvia, LV1079<br />

Abstract: In radiation therapy it is necessary to perform manual dose verification for each treatment plan. Several<br />

dosimetric parameters are dependent on treatment field size, however usually they are measured only for square fields.<br />

Therefore method allowing approximation of irregularly shaped field with equivalent square is necessary.<br />

Methods: Spreadsheet based equivalent square calculation tool based on Clarkson integration method was developed.<br />

Results: Basic verification tests suggested that by using developed method equivalent square can be determined with<br />

1.32 % error; such error would result in calculation of treatment field monitor units with 0.042 % error.<br />

Conclusions: Developed tool is easy to implement and use for manual treatment plan verifications.<br />

Keywords: equivalent square; manual dose verification<br />

1. Introduction<br />

According to international approach and<br />

recommendations, it is necessary to perform manual<br />

treatment plan verification for each patient. Manual<br />

monitor units (MU) verifications most commonly are<br />

done by using point dose calculation methods, such as<br />

isocentric method, SSD method, Clarkson’s method etc.<br />

For example, SSD method allows calculating point dose<br />

by following equation [1]:<br />

where:<br />

K – calibration index of accelerator<br />

rc – collimator field size<br />

Sc – collimator scatter factor<br />

Sp – phantom scatter factor<br />

TD – tumor dose<br />

(1)<br />

Parameters of linear accelerator (linac) are mostly<br />

dependant on beam energy, field size and depth.<br />

Parameters dependant on field size are usually acquired<br />

for square fields, however such fields are rarely used for<br />

treatment delivery. More significant are irregularly<br />

shaped fields. However, since beam parameters are<br />

acquired for square fields, it is necessary to approximate<br />

irregularly shaped fields with square field. Therefore<br />

concept of equivalent square (EQSQ) was introduced.<br />

Development of simple and easy-to-use EQSQ<br />

calculation method is significant for manual treatment<br />

plan verification. Since previously widely used dose<br />

calculation algorithms, such as pencil beam convolution<br />

56<br />

algorithm or PBC, had implemented EQSQ concept, it<br />

was possible to acquire this parameter directly from<br />

treatment planning system (TPS) reports, however<br />

analytical algorithms, such as anisotropic analytical<br />

algorithm or AAA, do not use EQSQ for dose<br />

calculation. Therefore, to perform manual plan<br />

verifications alternative EQSQ calculation method is<br />

necessary.<br />

2. Methodology<br />

EQSQ can be defined by geometric or dosimetric<br />

approach. Dosimetric approach takes into account<br />

physical characteristics of the beam, therefore it is<br />

considered more precise. Let us consider square field<br />

equivalent to irregularly shaped field if percentage<br />

depth dose (PDD) of square field at reference depth is<br />

equivalent to the PDD of irregular field.<br />

EQSQ calculation method is based on Clarkson’s<br />

integration method. However Clarkson’s method is<br />

based on use of parameters such as scatter air ratio<br />

(SAR) and tissue air ratio (TAR). Since acquisition of<br />

these parameters require additional measurements,<br />

scatter maximum ratio (SMR) and tissue maximum ratio<br />

(TMR), which are special cases of scatter phantom ratio<br />

(SPR) and tissue phantom ratio (TPR) respectively,<br />

were used instead. SMR and TMR can be calculated<br />

from depth dose (PDD) curves by method described in<br />

British Journal of Radiology, 1996, Supplement No. 25<br />

[2]. Calculation is done by using peak scatter factor<br />

(PSF).<br />

Total SMR of irregularly shaped field can be<br />

determined by following steps:

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