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This analysis estimated secondary cancer risks after volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and compared those risks to the risks associated with other modalities of head-and-neck (H&N) radiotherapy. Images of H&N anthropomorphic phantom were acquired with a computed tomography scanner and exported via digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) standards to a treatment planning system. Treatment plans were performed using a VMAT dual-arc technique, a nine-field intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) technique, and a four-field three-dimensional conformal therapy (3DCRT) technique. The prescription dose was 66.0 Gy for all three techniques, but to accommodate the range of dosimeter responses, we delivered a single dose of 6.60 Gy to the isocenter. The lifetime risk for secondary cancers was estimated according to National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) Report 116. VMAT delivered the lowest maximum doses to esophagus (23 Gy), and normal brain (40 Gy). In comparison, maximum doses for 3DCRT were 74% and 40%, higher than those for VMAT for the esophagus, and normal brain, respectively. The normal tissue complication probability and equivalent uniform dose for the brain (2.1%, 0.9%, 0.8% and 3.8 Gy, 2.6 Gy, 2.3 Gy) and esophagus (4.2%, 0.7%, 0.4% and 3.7 Gy, 2.2 Gy, 1.8 Gy) were calculated for the 3DCRT, IMRT and VMAT respectively. Fractional esophagus OAR volumes receiving more than 20 Gy were 3.6% for VMAT, 23.6% for IMRT, and 100% for 3DCRT. The calculations for mean doses, NTCP, EUD and OAR volumes suggest that the risk of secondary cancer induction after VMAT is lower than after IMRT and 3DCRT.

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Objective To study the accuracy of collapsed cone convolution ( CCC) and anisotropic analytical algorithm ( AAA) in dosimetric calculation on the air cavity interface. Methods A BEAMnrc/EGSnrc Monte Carlo ( MC ) simulation was performed on a Varian Trilogy linear accelerator. The IBA Dosimetry “blue phantom” 3D scanning system was used to verify the accuracy and reliability of the MC simulation. Central axis depth dose distribution and lateral dose profile in a water?equivalent phantom with variously sized air cavities were calculated by CCC and AAA. The obtained depth dose distribution and lateral dose profile were compared with those by MC simulation and EBT2 film, respectively. Results Both CCC and AAA overestimated the dose on the air cavity interface. In spite of some errors, CCC had a higher accuracy than AAA. The errors were mainly related to computational grid, field size, photon energy, cavity size, and the number of fields. Conclusion Electronic disequilibrium on the air cavity interface should be taken into account when CCC and AAA are used for dosimetric calculation in treatment planning system.

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PURPOSE: Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) using electron beam is commonly done by mobile dedicated linacs that have a variable range of electron energies. This paper focuses on the evaluation of the EBT2 film response in the green and red colour channels for IORT quality assurance (QA). METHODS: The calibration of the EBT2 films was done in two ranges; 0-8 Gy for machine QA by red channel and 8-24 Gy for patient-specific QA by green channel analysis. Irradiation of calibration films and relative dosimetries were performed in a water phantom. To evaluate the accuracy of the film response in relative dosimetry, gamma analysis was used to compare the results of the Monte Carlo simulation and ionometric dosimetry. Ten patients with early stage breast cancer were selected for in-vivo dosimetry using the green channel of the EBT2 film. RESULTS: The calibration curves were obtained by linear fitting of the green channel and a third-order polynomial function in the red channel (R2=0.99). The total dose uncertainty was up to 4.2% and 4.7% for the red and green channels, respectively. There was a good agreement between the relative dosimetries of films by the red channel, Monte Carlo simulations and ionometric values. The mean dose difference of the in-vivo dosimetry by green channel of this film and the expected values was about 1.98% ± 0.75. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that EBT2 film can be considered as an appropriate tool for machine and patient-specific QA in IORT.

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PURPOSE: Quality assurance (QA) is one of the most important issues that should be addressed for intraoperative electron radiotherapy (IOERT), which is not benefiting from image-based treatment planning system. The aim of this study is to evaluate the dosimetric characteristics of Gafchromic EBT2 film for breast IOERT QA procedure. METHODS: Due to the fact that some dedicated accelerators are being used for IOERT, dependence of the film response to energy, field size, dose rate and incidence angle of electron beam from the LIAC IOERT accelerator was studied. Then, film response curve to breast IOERT doses was obtained and its accuracy was evaluated and justified through comparison to the results of ionometric dosimetry. RESULTS: The results of this study indicated that there are no significant differences between the film responses at different energies of 6, 8, 10 and 12 MeV (P-value = 0.99). Similarly, no field size dependency was found when evaluating the response of the film to different field sizes ranging from 4 to 10 cm (P-value = 0.94). Film response was found to be independent of the dose rate of intraoperative electron beam (P-value = 0.12). Film response variations with changing the beam incidence angle were not significant (P-value > 0.8). Calibration curve at the dose range of 8-24 Gy had an acceptable accuracy. The difference between the results of film dosimetry and ionometric dosimetry was around 5% which was in agreement with the results of dose uncertainty estimation. CONCLUSION: The EBT2 film was found to be a potentially appropriate tool for breast IOERT verification.

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Multiplan treatment planning system, used with Cyberknife system, provides the option of using either the ray tracing algorithm or the Monte Carlo algorithm for the final dose calculation. In order to compare and validate the dose calculations of these algorithms, especially in a heterogeneous medium, a lung phantom study was carried out. Validation has been done with thermoluminiscent dosimetry (TLD) using lithium fluoride rods for the point doses and film dosimetry using EBT2 films for the dose distribution. In the point dose measurements, an agreement of 100.1+2.6 % (1 SD) is observed with the Monte Carlo dose calculation, whereas it is only 91.2+ 3.2% (1 SD) with the ray tracing calculation. On subjecting the dose distributions from irradiated EBT2 films for validation of Monte Carlo calculation MC , over 96% of the pixels pass the gamma criteria of 3mm and 3cGy.On analyzing the dose profiles from EBT2 films and the corresponding profiles from the plan calculated using the Monte Carlo algorithm, it is seen that the maximum distance-to-agreement values are within the 3mm criteria set, whereas the maximum values are as high as 8 mm when compared with plan calculated using ray tracing algorithm. The results of the actual measurements are more consistent with the dose calculation by the Monte Carlo algorithm.

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Gafchromic films are used as dosimeter for in vivo and in phantom dose measurements. The dose response of Gafchromic EBT2 film under single and repeated exposure conditions is compared in this study to analyze the usability of Gafchromic EBT2 films in cumulative dose measurements. The post-irradiation change in response of the film is studied for up to 4 days after irradiation. The effect of repeated exposure to scanner light on the response of the film is also studied. To check usability of Gafchromic EBT2 films in cumulative dose measurements, three EBT2 films were exposed to a daily fraction dose of 100 cGy, 150 cGy and 200 cGy, respectively, for 4 days. The dose response of the films exposed to cumulative irradiation was compared with the dose measured from films exposed to the same dose but in a single exposure. It is observed that the post-irradiation darkening of the film does not saturate and continue to take place even 4 days after irradiation. The dose measured from the EBT2 films after 4 days from irradiation was around 2% higher than the dose measured from the same films at 24 hours post-irradiation. It was also observed that the repeated exposure to scanner light does not produce any significant change in the film response. The dose response of films exposed to cumulative irradiation agrees with the dose response of films exposed to the same dose in a single irradiation with less than 3% difference. Gafchromic EBT2 films can be used to measure the cumulative dose delivered over multiple fractions, when the delivered dose is uniform across the film.

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AIM: The aim of this work was to assess the suitability of the use of a Gafchromic EBT2 film for the measurement of anisotropy function for microSelectron HDR (192)Ir (classic) source with a comparative dosimetry method using a Gafchromic EBT2 film and thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLDs). BACKGROUND: Sealed linear radiation sources are commonly used for high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy treatments. Due to self-absorption and oblique filtration of radiation in the source capsule material, an inherent anisotropy is present in the dose distribution around the source which can be described by a measurable two-dimensional anisotropy function, F(r, θ). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Measurements were carried out in a specially designed and locally fabricated PMMA phantom with provisions to accommodate miniature LiF TLD rods and EBT2 film dosimeters at identical radial distances with respect to the (192)Ir source. RESULTS: The data of anisotropy function generated by the use of the Gafchromic EBT2 film method are in agreement with their TLD measured values within 4%. The produced data are also consistent with their experimental and Monte Carlo calculated results for this source available in the literature. CONCLUSION: Gafchromic EBT2 film was found to be a feasible dosimeter in determining anisotropy in the dose distribution of (192)Ir source. It offers high resolution and is a viable alternative to TLD dosimetry at discrete points. The method described in this paper is useful for comparing the performances of detectors and can be applied for other brachytherapy sources as well.

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For treatment of Total Skin Electron beam Therapy (TSET), measurement of dose at various conditions is need on the contrary to usual radiotherapy. When treating TSET with modified Stanford technique based on linear accelerator, the energy of treatment electron beam, the spatial dose distribution and the actual doses deposited on the surface of the patient were measured by using EBT2. The measured energy of the electron beam was agreed with the value that measured by ionization chamber, and the spatial dose distribution at the patient position and the doses at several point on the patient's skin could be easily measured by EBT2 film. The dose on the patient that was measured by EBT2 film showed good agreement with the data measured simultaneously by TLD. With the results of this study, it was proven that the EBT2 film can be one of the useful dosimeter for TSET.

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