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…

Study of low-lying states of 51V, 50,52,53Cr, 59Co and 63Cu nuclei by α-particle inelastic scattering

Abstract Differential cross sections for inelastic scattering of α -particles to various levels in 51 V, 50,52,53 Cr, 59 Co and 63 Cu have been measured at incident α-particle energy of 25 MeV. Data corresponding to the odd nuclei have been analyzed in terms of the weak-coupling model and the symmetric rotor model. Even-even nuclei data have been analyzed in the framework of the coupled channels formalism in terms of two collective models: the harmonic vibrational model and the symmetric rotor model. Model predictions reproduce quite satisfactorily experimental angular distributions.

Dosimetric characteristics of backscattered electrons in lead.

In electron beam therapy, tissue overdose due to electrons backscattered from lead has been profusely studied. To quantify this dose enhancement effect, an electron backscatter factor (EBF) was defined as the ratio of dose at the tissue-inhomogeneity interface with and without the scatterer present. The dependence of the EBF on energy at the scatterer surface is not well known for energies lower than 3 MeV which is the most frequent clinical situation. In this work, we have done Monte Carlo calculations with the GEANT code to study EBF in lead at this energy range. The applicability of this code and the developed procedure for dose estimation has been experimentally verified. The dependence…

Comparison of woods-saxon and double-folding potentials forα-particle scattering from54Fe at 24.5 MeV

Inelastic-scattering data are presented forα-particles of 24.5 MeV from54Fe over the range 15° to 175° in the centre-of-mass system. The real part of the optical potential is calculated microscopically using the M3Y effective interaction of Bertschet al. and the DDM3Y density-dependent interaction. Elastic scattering has been analysed by using as real part of the optical potential M3Y, DDM3Y and Woods-Saxon forms (WS), taking in all three cases as imaginary part a WS potential. To fit the data the double-folding potential needs to be normalized by a factor of ⋍1.6 for the M3Y interaction and of ⋍1.13 for the DDM3Y interaction. By the study of the invariant-point ambiguity it has been observ…

The impact of conversion on the risk of major complication following laparoscopic colonic surgery: an international, multicentre prospective audit.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopy has now been implemented as a standard of care for elective colonic resection around the world. During the adoption period, studies showed that conversion may be detrimental to patients, with poorer outcomes than both laparoscopic completed or planned open surgery. The primary aim of this study was to determine whether laparoscopic conversion was associated with a higher major complication rate than planned open surgery in contemporary, international practice.METHODS: Combined analysis of the European Society of Coloproctology 2017 and 2015 audits. Patients were included if they underwent elective resection of a colonic segment from the caecum to the rectosigmoid jun…

Dosimetric characteristics of the CDC-type miniature cylindrical 137Cs brachytherapy sources

The low dose rate CDC-type miniature cylindrical 137 Cs sources are available, with one or three active beads, for use in source trains in automatic and manual afterloading systems for gynecological brachytherapy. Absolute dose rate distributions in water have been calculated around these sources using the Monte CarloGEANT3 code and they are presented as conventional two-dimensional Cartesian lookup tables. The AAPM Task Group 43 formalism for dose calculation has been also applied. The dose rate constant obtained for the one bead source is Λ=1.113±0.003 cGyh −1 U −1 , and the value for the three bead source is Λ=1.103±0.003 cGyh −1 U −1 . Finally, for the treatment planning systems based o…

A Monte Carlo investigation of the dosimetric characteristics of the CSM11 137Cs source from CIS

The purpose of this study is to calculate basic dosimetry data for a CSM11 low dose rate 137Cs source in water. This source is widely used in afterloadable dome cylinders designed to homogeneously irradiate the vaginal cuff alone or additional areas of the vagina in hysterectomized patients. In this study, the Monte Carlo simulation code GEANT, incorporating in detail source geometry, is used to investigate the dosimetric characteristics of the source. The calculated data were analyzed using a fitting procedure that is described in detail. Absolute dose rate distributions in water were calculated around this source and are presented as conventional 2D Cartesian lookup tables (classically al…

Erratum: “Technical note: Monte-Carlo dosimetry of the HDR 12i and Plus 192Ir sources” [Med. Phys. 28 , 2586-2591 (2001)]

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…

A dosimetric study on the Ir-192 high dose rate Flexisource

In this work, the dose rate distribution of a new Ir-192 high dose rate source (Flexisource used in the afterloading Flexitron system, Isodose Control, Veenendaal, The Netherlands) is studied by means of Monte Carlo techniques using the GEANT4 code. The dosimetric parameters of the Task Group No. 43 Report (TG43) formalism and two-dimensional rectangular look-up tables have been obtained.

A giant exoplanet orbiting a very-low-mass star challenges planet formation models

Surveys have shown that super-Earth and Neptune-mass exoplanets are more frequent than gas giants around low-mass stars, as predicted by the core accretion theory of planet formation. We report the discovery of a giant planet around the very-low-mass star GJ 3512, as determined by optical and near-infrared radial-velocity observations. The planet has a minimum mass of 0.46 Jupiter masses, very high for such a small host star, and an eccentric 204-day orbit. Dynamical models show that the high eccentricity is most likely due to planet-planet interactions. We use simulations to demonstrate that the GJ 3512 planetary system challenges generally accepted formation theories, and that it puts con…

SU-FF-T-14: Monte Carlo Derivation of TG-43 Dosimetric Parameters for Radiation Therapy Resources and 3M Cs-137 Sources

Purpose: In clinical brachytherapydosimetry a detailed dose rate distribution of the radioactive source in water is needed to make a quality treatment planning. Two Cs‐137 sources are considered in this study the Radiation Therapy Resources 67–800 source(Radiation Therapy Resources Inc., Valencia, CA) and the 3M model 6500/6D6C source.Material and methods: A complete dosimetric dataset for both sources has been obtained by means of the Monte Carlo GEANT4 code. Results:Dose rate distributions are presented in two different ways, following the TG43 formalism and in a 2D rectangular dose rate table. Conclusion: This 2D dose rate table is helpful for the TPS quality control and it is fully cons…

SU-FF-T-41: Monte Carlo Dosimetric Study of the New BEBIG Co-60 HDR Source

Purpose: The use of high dose rate brachytherapy (HDR) is a highly extended practice today, being the Ir‐192 the most widely extended isotope used for this type of practice although Co‐60 is also available for HDR. The purpose of this study is to obtain the dosimetric parameters of the Co‐60 source used by the BEBIG MultiSource remote afterloader (BEBIG GmbH, Germany) for which there is no dosimetric data available in the literature. It is recommended that accurate dose distribution data, based on a realistic geometry and on the mechanical characteristics of the source, should be obtained by an appropriate method, experimental or Monte Carlo, to be used as input in the HDR Treatment Plannin…

Technical note: Monte-Carlo dosimetry of the HDR 12i and Plus 192Ir sources.

In this study a complete set of dosimetric data for the GammaMed high dose rate (HDR) 12i and Plus 192 Ir sources are presented. These data have been calculated by means of the Monte Carlo simulation code GEANT3. Absolute dose rate distributions in water are presented as conventional two dimensional (2D) Cartesian look-up tables, and in the TG43 formalism.

Evaluating the incidence of pathological complete response in current international rectal cancer practice: the barriers to widespread safe deferral of surgery

INTRODUCTION: The mainstay of management for locally advanced rectal cancer is chemoradiotherapy followed by surgical resection. Following chemoradiotherapy, a complete response may be detected clinically and radiologically (cCR) prior to surgery or pathologically after surgery (pCR). We aim to report the overall complete pathological response (pCR) rate and the reliability of detecting a cCR by conventional pre-operative imaging.METHODS: A pre-planned analysis of the European Society of Coloproctology (ESCP) 2017 audit was performed. Patients treated by elective rectal resection were included. A pCR was defined as a ypT0 N0 EMVI negative primary tumour; a partial response represented any r…

SU-FF-T-13: Monte Carlo Calculation of the TG-43 Dosimetric Parameters of a New BEBIG Ir-192 HDR Source

Purpose: High dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy is a highly extended practice in clinical brachytherapy today. Quality dose rate distribution datasets of the HDR sources used in a clinical treatment are required. Because of the different source designs, a specific dosimetry dataset is required for each source model. In the recently published BRAPHYQS-ESTRO Report, an overview of available dosimetric data for all HDR Ir-192 sources is given, pointing out the lack of data for one of the sources, the used by the BEBIG MultiSource afterloading system (BEBIG GmbH, Germany). The purpose of this study is to obtain detailed dose rate distributions in liquid water media around this source. Material and …

An international multicentre prospective audit of elective rectal cancer surgery; operative approach versus outcome, including transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME)

Introduction: Transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) has rapidly emerged as a novel approach for rectal cancer surgery. Safety profiles are still emerging and more comparative data is urgently needed. This study aimed to compare indications and short-term outcomes of TaTME, open, laparoscopic, and robotic TME internationally. Methods: A pre-planned analysis of the European Society of Coloproctology (ESCP) 2017 audit was performed. Patients undergoing elective total mesorectal excision (TME) for malignancy between 1 January 2017 and 15 March 2017 by any operative approach were included. The primary outcome measure was anastomotic leak. Results: Of 2579 included patients, 76.2% (1966/257…

SU-FF-T-329: Monte Carlo Dosimetric Study of the Flexisource Ir-192 HDR Source

Purpose:Brachytherapy with high dose rate (HDR) sources of 192 Ir is a usual practice in clinical brachytherapy today. The TG43 U1 update report recommends that accurate dose distribution data of the brachytherapysource in use should be obtained experimentally or by Monte Carlo (MC), to be used as input in the HDR Treatment Planning System (TPS). The purpose of this study is to obtain the dose rate distribution in liquid water media for the Flexisource HDR 192 Ir source (Isodose Control GmbH, Germany) using the Monte Carlo method to obtain the TG43 U1 parameters and the 2‐D rectangular dose rate table. Material and methods: The MC code GEANT4 (7.1 version) was used to estimate dose rate in …

Erratum: “Fitted dosimetric parameters of high dose-rate 192Ir sources according to the AAPM TG43 formalism” [Med. Phys. 28 (4), 654-660 (2001)]

SU-FF-T-180: Dosimetric Characteristics of Tm-170 as a Radionuclide for Its Possible Use in Brachytherapy

In clinical brachytherapy several types of photon sources are used, mainly Cs‐137, Ir‐192, I‐125, and Pd‐103. The Tm‐170 is a promising radionuclide for use in brachytherapy because of the low mean‐energy (46.75 keV or 66.39 keV if the lines below 10 keV are removed) and the possible high specific activity (2.21×1014 Bq/g for a half life of 128.6 days). Tm‐170 is produced in a nuclear reactor by neutron absorption of the natural Tm‐169 and decays mainly via β‐emission. The maximum energies of the β‐rays are 0.290 and 0.323 MeV. These β particles are thus absorbed in the source core and in the encapsulation cover producing bremsstrahlung that contributes significantly to the dose. These fact…

Monte Carlo dosimetric study of the BEBIG Co-60 HDR source

Although not as widespread as Ir-192, Co-60 is also available on afterloading equipment devoted to high dose rate brachytherapy, mainly addressed to the treatment of gynaecological lesions. The purpose of this study is to obtain the dosimetric parameters of the Co-60 source used by the BEBIG MultiSource remote afterloader (BEBIG GmbH, Germany) for which there are no dosimetric data available in the literature. The Monte Carlo code GEANT4 has been used to obtain the TG43 parameters and the 2D dose rate table in Cartesian coordinates of the BEBIG Co-60 HDR source. The dose rate constant, radial dose function and anisotropy function have been calculated and are presented in a tabular form as w…

Reply to “Comment on ‘Correspondence factor for Nucletron surface applicators'” [Med. Phys. 39, 2947-2948 (2012)]

Fitted dosimetric parameters of high dose-rate 192Ir sources according to the AAPM TG43 formalism

The purpose of this study is to find fitted functional forms to the anisotropy function, F(r,θ), and the radial dose function, g(r), in order to characterize dose-rate distributions around all the high-intensity 192 Ir sources currently in use. Dosimetry data are at present available as tables for: the microSelectron HDR (“classic” and “new” design models), the PDR source, and the VariSource HDR source, expressed in terms of the AAPM Task Group No. 43 recommendations. There is only one paper out which introduces a functional form to fit the anisotropy function, but only for symmetric sources with respect to the transverse axis. However, dosimetric data of the HDR and PDR sources mentioned a…

Flattering filter design for HDR surface applicators

Dosimetric study of the 15mm ROPES eye plaque

The main aim of this paper is to make a study of dose-rate distributions obtained around the 15 mm, radiation oncology physics and engineering services, Australia (ROPES) eye plaque loaded with {sup 125}I model 6711 radioactive seeds. In this study, we have carried out a comparison of the dose-rate distributions obtained by the algorithm used by the Plaque Simulator (PS) (BEBIG GmbH, Berlin, Germany) treatment planning system with those obtained by means of the Monte Carlo method for the ROPES eye plaque. A simple method to obtain the dose-rate distributions in a treatment planning system via the superposition of the dose-rate distributions of a seed placed in the eye plaque has been develo…

Monte Carlo calculation of dose rate distributions around the Walstam CDC.K-type137Cs sources

Basic dosimetric data for the Walstam CDC.K-type low dose rate 137Cs sources in water have been calculated using Monte Carlo techniques. These sources, CDC.K1 -K3 and CDC.K4, are widely used in a range of applicators and moulds for the treatment of intracavitary and superficial cancers. Our purpose is to improve existing data about these sources using the Monte Carlo simulation code GEANT3. Absolute dose rate distributions in water have been calculated around these sources and are presented as conventional 2D Cartesian look-up tables. Also the AAPM Task Group 43 formalism for dose calculation has been applied. The calculated dose rate constant for the CDC.K1-K3 source is A = 1.106 +/- 0.001…

Monte Carlo and experimental derivation of TG43 dosimetric parameters for CSM-type Cs-137 sources

In this study, complete dosimetric datasets for the CSM2 and CSM3 Cs-137 sources were obtained using the Monte Carlo GEANT4 code. The application of this calculation method was experimentally validated with thermoluminescent dosimetry (TLD). Functions and parameters following the TG43 formalism are presented: the dose rate constant, the radial dose functional, and the anisotropy function. In addition, to aid the quality control process on treatment planning systems, a two-dimensional (2D) rectangular dose rate table (the traditional along-away table), coherent with the TG43 dose calculation formalism, is given. The data given in this study complement existing information for both sources on…

A monte carlo study of dose rate distribution around the specially asymmetric CSM3-a 137Cs source.

The CSM3 137Cs type stainless-steel encapsulated source is widely used in manually afterloaded low dose rate brachytherapy. A specially asymmetric source, CSM3-a, has been designed by CIS Bio International (France) substituting the eyelet side seed with an inactive material in the CSM3 source. This modification has been done in order to allow a uniform dose level over the upper vaginal surface when this `linear' source is inserted at the top of the dome vaginal applicators. In this study the Monte Carlo GEANT3 simulation code, incorporating the source geometry in detail, was used to investigate the dosimetric characteristics of this special CSM3-a 137Cs brachytherapy source. The absolute do…

The elastic scattering of 25MeV α-particles and neutron shell effects in the A = 50 TO A = 93 mass region

Abstract Experimental elastic scattering angular distributions of 25 MeV α-particles scattered from 28 nuclei ranging from 50Cr to 93Nb have been measured and then analysed in terms of a regular optical model with standard Woods-Saxon geometries for both the real and imaginary potentials. The experimental distributions are well fitted over the whole angular range from 5° to 175° c.m. by the predictions, provided that a smaller than normal diffuseness is used for the imaginary potentials. The usual families of potentials with volume integrals differing by approximately 100 MeV · fm3 are found. The family with volume integral ranging from 540 to 420 MeV· fm3 over the nuclei studied has been c…

Technical note: Monte Carlo derivation of TG-43 dosimetric parameters for radiation therapy resources and 3M Cs-137 sources

In clinical brachytherapy dosimetry, a detailed dose rate distribution of the radioactive source in water is needed in order to plan for quality treatment. Two Cs-137 sources are considered in this study; the Radiation Therapy Resources 67-800 source (Radiation Therapy Resources Inc., Valencia, CA) and the 3M model 6500/6D6C source. A complete dosimetric dataset for both sources has been obtained by means of the Monte Carlo GEANT4 code. Dose rate distributions are presented in two different ways; following the TG43 formalism and in a 2D rectangular dose rate table. This 2D dose rate table is helpful for the TPS quality control and is fully consistent with the TG43 dose calculation formalism…

Monte Carlo dosimetric characterization of the Cs-137 selectron/LDR source: evaluation of applicator attenuation and superposition approximation effects.

The purpose of this study is to calculate the dose rate distribution for the Amersham Cs-137 pellet source used in brachytherapy with the Selectron low-dose-rate remote afterloading system in gynaecological applications using the Monte Carlo code GEANT4. The absolute dose rate distribution for the pellet source was obtained and presented as a one-dimensional absolute dose rate table as well as in the Task Group 43 dose-calculation formalism. In this study, excellent agreement was found between the point source theoretical model using fitted polynomial values and Monte Carlo calculations of the dose rate distribution for the pellet source. A comparison study was also made between the dose ra…

Monte Carlo dosimetry of the Buchler high dose rate 192Ir source.

In this study a complete set of dosimetric data is presented for the high dose rate (HDR) source from Amersham used in the Buchler remote afterloading HDR unit. These data have been calculated by means of the Monte Carlo simulation code GEANT taking into account the detailed geometry of the source. Absolute dose rate distributions in water were calculated around this source and are presented as conventional 2D Cartesian look-up tables. All dosimetric quantities recommended by the AAPM Task Group 43 report have been calculated. Quantities determined are: dose rate constant, radial dose function, anisotropy function, anisotropy factor and anisotropy constant. The dose rate distributions of th…

Monte Carlo dosimetric study of Best Industries and Alpha Omega Ir-192 brachytherapy seeds

Ir-192 seeds are widely used in the USA for low dose rate interstitial brachytherapy. There are two commercially available models: those manufactured by Best Industries filtered with stainless steel, and those manufactured by Alpha-Omega seeds filtered with Pt. Newly developed 3D correction algorithms for brachytherapy are based on dosimetry data obtained on unbounded phantom size, allowing corrections for heterogeneities and actual tissue boundaries. Published dosimetric datasets for both seeds have been obtained under bounded conditions. The aim of the present study is to obtain dosimetric datasets for these seeds under full scatter conditions. The Monte Carlo GEANT4 code has been used to…

Broad beam transmission curves for new radionuclides in brachytherapy