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Monte Carlo simulation of electron modes of a Siemens Primus linac (8, 12 and 14 MeV)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 2013

Mohammad Taghi Bahreyni Toossi ,
Mahdi Ghorbani ,
Fateme Akbari ,
Leila Sobhkhiz Sabet  and
Mohammad Mehrpouyan
Mohammad Taghi Bahreyni Toossi
Affiliation:
Medical Physics Research Center, Medical Physics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Mahdi Ghorbani*
Affiliation:
Medical Physics Research Center, Medical Physics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Fateme Akbari
Affiliation:
Medical Physics Department, Reza Radiation Oncology Center, Mashhad, Iran
Leila Sobhkhiz Sabet
Affiliation:
Medical Physics Research Center, Medical Physics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Mohammad Mehrpouyan
Affiliation:
Nutrition and Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran
*
Correspondence to: Dr Mahdi Ghorbani, Medical Physics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Pardis-e-Daneshgah, Vakil Abad Blvd., Mashhad 9177948564, Iran. Tel: +98 511 8002316. Fax: +98 511 8002320. E-mail: mhdghorbani@gmail.com
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Abstract

Background

Electron mode is used for treatment of superficial tumours in linac-based radiotherapy.

Purpose

The aim of present study is simulation of 8, 12 and 14 MeV electrons from a Siemens Primus linac using MCNPX Monte Carlo (MC) code and verification of the results based on comparison of the results with the measured data.

Materials and methods

Electron mode for 8, 12 and 14 MeV electron energies of a Siemens Primus linac was simulated using MCNPX MC code. Percent depth dose (PDD) data for 10 × 10, 15 × 15 and 25 × 25 cm2 applicators obtained from MC simulations were compared with the corresponding measured data.

Results

Gamma index values were less than unity in most of points for all the above-mentioned energies and applicators. However, for 25 × 25 cm2 applicator in 8 MeV energy, 10 × 10 cm2 applicator and 15 × 15 cm2 applicator in 14 MeV energy, there were four data points with gamma indices higher than unity. However among these data points, there are a number of cases with relatively large value of gamma index, these cases are positioned on the bremsstrahlung tail of the PDD curve which is not normally used in treatment planning.

Conclusion

There was good agreement between the results of MC simulations developed in this study and the measured values. The obtained simulation programmes can be used in dosimetry of electron mode of Siemens Primus linac in the cases in which it is not easily feasible to perform experimental in-phantom measurements.

Keywords

electron modegamma functionMCNPXMonte Carlo simulationSiemens Primus linac
Type
Original Articles
Information
Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice , Volume 12 , Issue 4 , December 2013 , pp. 352 - 359
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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