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A dosimetric analysis of proton beam therapy using different snouts

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 November 2018

Khalid Iqbal ,
Qurat-ul-ain Shamsi Open the ORCID record for Qurat-ul-ain Shamsi [Opens in a new window] ,
Kent A Gifford ,
Sania Anum  and
Saeed Ahmad Buzdar
Khalid Iqbal
Affiliation:
Clinical & Radiation Oncology Department, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Center, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Qurat-ul-ain Shamsi*
Affiliation:
Physics Department, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan
Kent A Gifford
Affiliation:
Department of Radiation Physics, M D Anderson Cancer Centre, University of Texas, Houston, USA
Sania Anum
Affiliation:
Physics Department, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan
Saeed Ahmad Buzdar
Affiliation:
Physics Department, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan
*
Author for correspondence: Qurat-ul-ain Shamsi, Physics Department, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan. Tel: +923216827959; E-mail: annieshamsi@hotmail.com
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Abstract

Purpose

This exploration is intended to analyse the dosimetric characteristics of proton beams of multiple energies using different snout sizes.

Materials and methods

A synchrotron was used for the extraction of eight proton beam energies (100–250 MeV). Dosimetric measurements were taken in a water phantom that was irradiated with a proton beam emanating from the gantry system at angles 0, 90, 180 and 270 degree using a large and a medium snout. The range of beam energies in the phantom, their corresponding centre modulation depth (CMD) and the width of spread out Bragg peak (SOBP) were measured by Markus chamber. Double scattering technique was employed for the creation of SOBPs.

Results

The range of proton beams varied from 4·3 cm for 100 MeV beam to 28·5 cm for 250 MeV beam with the medium snout and from 4·3 cm for 100 MeV to 25 cm for 250 MeV beam with large snout in the water phantom. SOBP width showed a variation from 4 to 10 cm with medium and large snout. While determining the output with medium snout, the discrepancy of 1·1% was observed between the maximum and minimum mean values of output for all the given set of energies and angles. There occurred a difference of 0·9% between the maximum and minimum mean values of output with the large snout. Beam output at SOBP centre was 12% higher with large snout as compared to that with medium snout for all the given beam energies. Flatness and symmetry were found within ±2·5% tolerance limits with medium and large snouts.

Conclusion

Flatness and symmetry were found within explicit limits with both medium and large snouts. Large snout produced higher beam output than that of medium snout at the centre of SOBP. This exploration can be extended to the determination of beam output, flatness and symmetry with a small snout.

Keywords

dosimetric specificationsflatness and symmetryproton beamquality assurancesynchrotron
Type
Original Article
Information
Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice , Volume 18 , Issue 2 , June 2019 , pp. 180 - 185
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Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 2018 

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Footnotes

Cite this article: Iqbal K, Shamsi Q, Gifford KA, Anum S, Buzdar SA. (2019) A dosimetric analysis of proton beam therapy using different snouts. Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice18: 180–185. doi: 10.1017/S1460396918000675

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