Premium
Monte Carlo characterization of a new Yb‐169 high dose rate source for brachytherapy application
Author(s) -
Cazeca Mario J.,
Medich David C.,
Munro John J.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
medical physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.473
H-Index - 180
eISSN - 2473-4209
pISSN - 0094-2405
DOI - 10.1118/1.3301607
Subject(s) - brachytherapy , monte carlo method , imaging phantom , kerma , computational physics , radius , physics , dosimetry , anisotropy , nuclear medicine , materials science , optics , mathematics , computer science , medicine , radiation therapy , statistics , radiology , computer security
Purpose: The objective was to characterize a new Yb‐169 high dose rate source for brachytherapy application. Methods: Monte Carlo simulations were performed using the MCNP5 F6 energy deposition tallies placed around the Yb‐169 source at different radial distances in both air‐vacuum and water environments. The calculations were based on a spherical water phantom with a radius of 50 cm. The output from the simulations was converted into radial dose rate distribution in polar coordinates surrounding the brachytherapy source. Results: The results from Monte Carlo simulations were used to calculate the AAPM Task Group 43 dosimetric parameters: Anisotropy function, radial dose function, air kerma strength, and dose rate constant. The results indicate a dose rate constant of 1.12 ± 0.04 cGyh − 1U − 1, anisotropy function ranging from 0.44 to 1.00 for radial distances of 0.5–10 cm and polar angles of 0°–180°. Conclusions: The data from the Yb‐169 HDR source, Model M42, presented in this study show that this source compares favorably with another source of Yb‐169, Model 4140, already approved for brachytherapy treatment.