L. Makovicka

Electron irradiation of polyurethane: Some FTIR results and a comparison with a EGS4 simulation

Abstract In this paper, investigations have been carried out on electron beam irradiated thermoplastic and aromatic polyurethane (PU). The changes in chemical structure after irradiation were determined using FTIR spectroscopy. This study has allowed us to highlight polymer degradation versus depth and dose by following the decrease in the NH-bond intensity. The PU oxidation was also studied by following the appearance of OH bonds. Results showed that degradation and oxidation of the PU reaches a maximum between 150 and 250 μm. These effects are quantifiable up to 500 μm. Experimental results were compared with the distribution of the energy deposition simulated by the EGS4-PRESTA code. Our experimental results are in strong accordance with the simulation.

Determination of the correction factors for detectors used with an 800 MU/min CyberKnife® system equipped with fixed collimators and a study of detector response to small photon beams using a Monte Carlo method

PURPOSE In a previous work, output ratio (ORdet) measurements were performed for the 800 MU/min CyberKnife(®) at the Oscar Lambret Center (COL, France) using several commercially available detectors as well as using two passive dosimeters (EBT2 radiochromic film and micro-LiF TLD-700). The primary aim of the present work was to determine by Monte Carlo calculations the output factor in water (OFMC,w) and the [Formula: see text] correction factors. The secondary aim was to study the detector response in small beams using Monte Carlo simulation. METHODS The LINAC head of the CyberKnife(®) was modeled using the PENELOPE Monte Carlo code system. The primary electron beam was modeled using a monoenergetic source with a radial gaussian distribution. The model was adjusted by comparisons between calculated and measured lateral profiles and tissue-phantom ratios obtained with the largest field. In addition, the PTW 60016 and 60017 diodes, PTW 60003 diamond, and micro-LiF were modeled. Output ratios with modeled detectors (ORMC,det) and OFMC,w were calculated and compared to measurements, in order to validate the model for smallest fields and to calculate [Formula: see text] correction factors, respectively. For the study of the influence of detector characteristics on their response in small beams; first, the impact of the atomic composition and the mass density of silicon, LiF, and diamond materials were investigated; second, the material, the volume averaging, and the coating effects of detecting material on the detector responses were estimated. Finally, the influence of the size of silicon chip on diode response was investigated. RESULTS Looking at measurement ratios (uncorrected output factors) compared to the OFMC,w, the PTW 60016, 60017 and Sun Nuclear EDGE diodes systematically over-responded (about +6% for the 5 mm field), whereas the PTW 31014 Pinpoint chamber systematically under-responded (about -12% for the 5 mm field). ORdet measured with the SFD diode and PTW 60003 diamond detectors were in good agreement with OFMC,w except for the 5 mm field size (about -7.5% for the diamond and +3% for the SFD). A good agreement with OFMC,w was obtained with the EBT2 film and micro-LiF dosimeters (deviation less than 1.4% for all fields investigated). [Formula: see text] correction factors for several detectors used in this work have been calculated. The impact of atomic composition on the dosimetric response of detectors was found to be insignificant, unlike the mass density and size of the detecting material. CONCLUSIONS The results obtained with the passive dosimeters showed that they can be used for small beam OF measurements without correction factors. The study of detector response showed that ORdet is depending on the mass density, the volume averaging, and the coating effects of the detecting material. Each effect was quantified for the PTW 60016 and 60017 diodes, the micro-LiF, and the PTW 60003 diamond detectors. None of the active detectors used in this work can be recommended as a reference for small field dosimetry, but an improved diode detector with a smaller silicon chip coated with tissue-equivalent material is anticipated (by simulation) to be a reliable small field dosimetric detector in a nonequilibrium field.

Calculations of dose distributions using a neural network model

The main goal of external beam radiotherapy is the treatment of tumours, while sparing, as much as possible, surrounding healthy tissues. In order to master and optimize the dose distribution within the patient, dosimetric planning has to be carried out. Thus, for determining the most accurate dose distribution during treatment planning, a compromise must be found between the precision and the speed of calculation. Current techniques, using analytic methods, models and databases, are rapid but lack precision. Enhanced precision can be achieved by using calculation codes based, for example, on Monte Carlo methods. However, in spite of all efforts to optimize speed (methods and computer improvements), Monte Carlo based methods remain painfully slow. A newer way to handle all of these problems is to use a new approach in dosimetric calculation by employing neural networks. Neural networks (Wu and Zhu 2000 Phys. Med. Biol. 45 913-22) provide the advantages of those various approaches while avoiding their main inconveniences, i.e., time-consumption calculations. This permits us to obtain quick and accurate results during clinical treatment planning. Currently, results obtained for a single depth-dose calculation using a Monte Carlo based code (such as BEAM (Rogers et al 2003 NRCC Report PIRS-0509(A) rev G)) require hours of computing. By contrast, the practical use of neural networks (Mathieu et al 2003 Proceedings Journees Scientifiques Francophones, SFRP) provides almost instant results and quite low errors (less than 2%) for a two-dimensional dosimetric map.

Experimental study and Monte Carlo modeling of the Cherenkov effect

Abstract Studies realised at the Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy (INRNE) particularly in cosmic ray detection and construction of Muonic Cherenkov Telescope at the South West University “Neofit Rilski” Blagoevgrad show the need to develop a theoretical model based on observed phenomena and to refinement of this for detection system optimisation. The Cherenkov effect was introduced in EGS4 code system. The first simulations realised in collaboration between the french and the bulgarian team were consecrated to different geometries of water tank in total reflection. An additional modeling of photons mean trajectory and the mean number of reflections in the tank were made. This simple model was compared with experimental data realised with 60Co gamma source, the telescope and the most efficient water tank. A trajectory simulation of Cherenkov photons in water tank was made. An efficiency estimation of the detector registration was calculated. The atmospheric model was introduced in EGS4 code and a comparison between CORSIKA5.62 and EGS4 codes was made.

Determination of 3D dose distribution by PAG and Monte-Carlo simulations

Abstract Modern techniques in conformal radiotherapy allow to fit exactly the target volume with complex dose spatial distributions. Unfortunately, no clinical dosimetric systems are accurate enough to map completely these 3D dose distributions. This study points out the existence of a recent polymer gel dosimeter: polyacrylamid gels (PAG), which can improve the precision of 3D dose calculation. The aim of this work is to validate this PAG technique by comparison with a well-known method: the Monte-Carlo simulations. For a first study, we have analyzed the 3D dose distributions in a PVDF phantom (close to the bone density) irradiated by a 60 Co therapy source. Dosimetric parameters calculated, such as depth dose curves and profiles, show a good agreement with measured gel datas. These results demonstrate that Monte-Carlo simulations are suitable to validate the PAG results.

Study of dental prostheses influence in radiation therapy

Dental prostheses made of high density material contribute to modify dose distribution in head and neck cancer treatment. Our objective is to quantify dose perturbation due to high density inhomogeneity with experimental measurements and Monte Carlo simulations. Firstly, measurements were carried in a phantom representing a human jaw with thermoluminescent detectors (GR200A) and EBT2 Gafchromic films in the vicinity of three samples: a healthy tooth, a tooth with amalgam and a Ni-Cr crown, irradiated in clinical configuration. Secondly, Monte Carlo simulations (BEAMnrc code) were assessed in an identical configuration. Experimental measurements and simulation results confirm the two well-known phenomena: firstly the passage from a low density medium to a high density medium induces backscattered electrons causing a dose increase at the interface, and secondly, the passage from a high density medium to a low density medium creates a dose decrease near the interface. So, the results show a 1.4% and 23.8% backscatter dose rise and attenuation after sample of 26.7% and 10.9% respectively for tooth with amalgam and crown compared to the healthy tooth. Although a tooth with amalgam has a density of about 12-13, the changes generated are not significant. However, the results for crown (density of 8) are very significant and the discordance observed may be due to calculation point size difference 0.8 mm and 0.25 mm respectively for TLD and Monte Carlo. The use of Monte Carlo simulations and experimental measurements provides objective evidence to evaluate treatment planning system results with metal dental prostheses.

Neural network based algorithm for radiation dose evaluation in heterogeneous environments

An efficient and accurate algorithm for radiation dose evaluation is presented in this paper. Such computations are useful in the radiotherapic treatment planning of tumors. The originality of our approach is to use a neural network which has been trained with several homogeneous environments to deduce the doses in any kind of environment (possibly heterogeneous). Our algorithm is compared in several representative contexts to a reference simulation code in the domain.

Theoretical and experimental study of spectral distortions at the output of an accelerator for medical use

Abstract Cooperation between LMIT and the Montbeliard hospital has focused on improvement in accuracy of beam output of a linear accelerator, SATURNE 43. Simulations of dose delivered in water were done without the flattening filter. The model was compared with experimental data measured in a water phantom.

Adapting numerical representations of lung contours using Case-Based Reasoning and Artificial Neural Networks

In case of a radiological emergency situation involving accidental human exposure, a dosimetry evaluation must be established as soon as possible. In most cases, this evaluation is based on numerical representations and models of subjects. Unfortunately, personalised and realistic human representations are often unavailable for the exposed subjects. However, accuracy of treatment depends on the similarity of the phantom to the subject. The EquiVox platform (Research of Equivalent Voxel phantom) developed in this study uses Case-Based Reasoning principles to retrieve and adapt, from among a set of existing phantoms, the one to represent the subject. This paper introduces the EquiVox platform and Artificial Neural Networks developed to interpolate the subject’s 3D lung contours. The results obtained for the choice and construction of the contours are presented and discussed.

The use of the EGS4-PRESTA code for the thermoluminescent dosemeter response simulation

Abstract Within the framework of a Bulgarian-French collaboration, the Monte Carlo EGS4-PRESTA code was used to simulate a PROTECTA thermoluminescent detector, elaborated by the Nuclear Institute in Sofia. The simulation was achieved using different sources (X-rays, 137Cs, 60Co) which were then directed perpendicularly to the surface. Various parameters were altered: the material of the filter, the geometry of the filter and of the coversheet. The main aim of this study is the possibility to optimize theoretically this dosimetrical system.