0000000000136835
AUTHOR
V. Crispín
A dosimetric study of Leipzig applicators.
Purpose: To obtain the absolute dose-rate distribution in liquid water for all six cup-shaped Leipzig applicators by means of an experimentally validated Monte Carlo (MC) code. These six applicators were used in high-dose-rate (HDR) afterloaders with the “classic” and v2 192Ir sources. The applicators have an inner diameter of 1, 2, and 3 cm, with the source traveling parallel or perpendicular to the contact surface. Methods and materials: The MC GEANT4 code was used to obtain the dose-rate distribution in liquid water for the six applicators and the two HDR source models. To normalize the applicator output factors, a MC simulation for the “classic” and v2 sources in air was performed to es…
Design and evaluation of a HDR skin applicator with flattening filter
The purposes of this study are: (i) to design field flattening filters for the Leipzig applicators of 2 and 3 cm of inner diameter with the source traveling parallel to the applicator contact surface, which are accessories of the microSelectron-HDR afterloader (Nucletron, Veenendaal, The Netherlands). These filters, made of tungsten, aim to flatten the heterogeneous dose distribution obtained with the Leipzig applicators. (ii) To estimate the dose rate distributions for these Leipzig+filter applicators by means of the Monte Carlo (MC) method. (iii) To experimentally verify these distributions for prototypes of these new applicators, and (iv) to obtain the correspondence factors to measure t…
Technique for routine output verification of Leipzig applicators with a well chamber
The H-type Leipzig applicators are accessories of the microSelectron-HDR system (Nucletron, Veenendaal, The Netherlands) for treatment of superficial malignancies. Recently, the dose rate distributions in liquid water for the whole set of applicators using both source models available for the microSelectron-HDR afterloaders have been obtained by means of the experimentally validated Monte Carlo (MC) code GEANT4. Also an output table (cGy/hU) at 3 mm depth on the applicator central axis was provided. The output verification of these applicators by the user, prior to their clinical use, present practical problems: small detectors such as thermoluminescent dosimeters or parallel-plate ionizati…
Monte Carlo evaluation of kerma in an HDR brachytherapy bunker
In recent years, the use of high dose rate (HDR) after-loader machines has greatly increased due to the shift from traditional Cs-137/Ir-192 low dose rate (LDR) to HDR brachytherapy. The method used to calculate the required concrete and, where appropriate, lead shielding in the door is based on analytical methods provided by documents published by the ICRP, the IAEA and the NCRP. The purpose of this study is to perform a more realistic kerma evaluation at the entrance maze door of an HDR bunker using the Monte Carlo code GEANT4. The Monte Carlo results were validated experimentally. The spectrum at the maze entrance door, obtained with Monte Carlo, has an average energy of about 110 keV, m…
Erratum: “Technique for routine output verification of Leipzig applicators with a well chamber” [Med. Phys. 33, 16-20 (2006)]
The use of nomograms in LDR-HDR prostate brachytherapy
Purpose: The common use of nomograms in Low Dose Rate (LDR) permanent prostate brachytherapy (BT) allows to estimate the number of seeds required for an implant. Independent dosimetry verification is recommended for each clinical dosimetry in BT. Also, nomograms can be useful for dose calculation quality assurance and they could be adapt ed to High Dose Rate (HDR). This work sets nomograms for LDR and HDR prostate-BT implants, which are applied to three different institutions that use different implant techniques. Material and methods: Patients treated throughout 2010 till April 2011 were considered for this study. This exam ple was chosen to be the representative of the latest implant tech…