Monte Carlo dose calculations for dynamic IMRT treatments

Phys Med Biol. 2001 Apr;46(4):929-41. doi: 10.1088/0031-9155/46/4/302.

Abstract

Dose calculations for intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) face new challenges due to the complex leaf geometry and time dependent nature of the delivery. A fast method of particle transport through a dynamic multileaf collimator (MLC) geometry that accounts for photon attenuation and first-scattered Compton photon production has been incorporated into an existing Monte Carlo code used for patient dose calculations. Dosimetric agreement between calculation and measurement for two photon energies and MLC types is within experimental error for the sliding window tests. For a patient IMRT field, the Monte Carlo calculations are closer to measured dose than similar superposition or pencil beam calculations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Monte Carlo Method*
  • Photons
  • Probability
  • Radiometry / methods*
  • Radiotherapy, Conformal / instrumentation*
  • Radiotherapy, Conformal / methods*
  • Time Factors