Influence of smoothing algorithms in Monte Carlo dose calculations of cyberknife treatment plans: A lung phantom study

The Monte Carlo dose calculation algorithm yields accurate dose distributions in heterogeneous media and interfaces. The Monte Carlo calculation algorithm provided in the Multiplan Cyberknife treatment planning system (Accuray, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) has five different dose-smoothing algorithms in it. As the principle of smoothing of these algorithms is different, they can produce a disparity in the final dose distribution. The aim of the present study is to analyze the influence of these Monte Carlo smoothing algorithms in the final dose distribution of cyberknife treatment plans.