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Sci‐Sat AM: Radiation Dosimetry and Practical Therapy Solutions ‐ 12: Suitability of plan class specific reference fields for estimating dosimeter correction factors for small clinical CyberKnife fields
Author(s) -
Vandervoort Eric,
Christiansen Eric,
Belec Jason,
Muir Bryan
Publication year - 2016
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 - 10.1118/1.4961866
Subject(s) - dosimeter , dosimetry , ionization chamber , scintillator , cyberknife , physics , detector , monte carlo method , dose profile , medical physics , nuclear medicine , nuclear physics , optics , radiosurgery , medicine , radiation therapy , ionization , ion , radiology , mathematics , statistics , quantum mechanics
Purpose: The purpose of this work is to investigate the utility of plan class specific reference (PCSR) fields for predicting dosimeter response within isocentric and non‐isocentric composite clinical fields using the smallest fields employed by the CyberKnife radiosurgery system. Methods: Monte Carlo dosimeter response correction factors (CFs) were calculated for a plastic scintillator and microchamber dosimeter in 21 clinical fields and 9 candidate plan‐class PCSR fields which employ the 5, 7.5 and 10 mm diameter collimators. Measurements were performed in 5 PCSR fields to confirm the predicted relative response of detectors in the same field. Results: Ratios of corrected measured dose in the PCSR fields agree to within 1% of unity. Calculated CFs for isocentric fields agree within 1.5% of those for PCSR fields. Large and variable microchamber CFs are required for non‐isocentric fields, with differences as high as 5% between different clinical fields in the same plan class and 4% within the same field depending on the point of measurement. Non‐isocentric PCSR fields constructed to have relatively homogenous dose over a region larger than the detector have very different ion chamber CFs from clinical fields. The plastic scintillator detector has much more consistent response within each plan class but still require 3–4% corrections in some fields. Conclusions: While the PCSR field concept is useful for small isocentric fields, this approach may not be appropriate for non‐isocentric clinical fields which exhibit large and variable ion chamber CFs which differ significantly from CFs for homogenous field PCSRs.