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Lecture (8) RT

The document discusses the features and functionalities of a water phantom system used in radiation therapy, including its ability to perform three-dimensional dose analyses and measurements. It explains the importance of off-axis ratios (OAR) for accurate dose distribution and the creation of isodose curves for treatment planning. Additionally, it details the components of physical penumbra and their impact on dose profiles in radiation therapy.

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11 views12 pages

Lecture (8) RT

The document discusses the features and functionalities of a water phantom system used in radiation therapy, including its ability to perform three-dimensional dose analyses and measurements. It explains the importance of off-axis ratios (OAR) for accurate dose distribution and the creation of isodose curves for treatment planning. Additionally, it details the components of physical penumbra and their impact on dose profiles in radiation therapy.

Uploaded by

hamodaasamir738
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Radiation Techniques II

Lec 8

Dr. Mohammed Abd El-Aziz


General Features of a Water Phantom System
• The system can perform three-dimensional computerized controlled
analyses of the dose, depth dose, dose ratios [TMR, TPR
(measurement and calculation)], and isodose calculations.
• It has an air scanner capable of making measurements in air, along
with an ion chamber, and build-up blocks.
• There is also a mechanism in these equipments which can be used to
mount to the head of actual treatment machines.
• The system has a specific test apparatus that can be used to test the
isocenter point for the treatment machine (an “isocheck”).
• It has an apparatus that can check the monitor unit controls of a linac
teletherapy unit (a “monicheck”).
Ionization Chamber in a Water Phantom
The dose profile perpendicular to the
central axis (i.e., parallel to earth) is
determined for that energy.

The characteristics of the delivered


radiation can be determined by performing
measurements in ionization chamber
within a water phantom.

These characteristics are the flatness,


symmetry, and penumbra for that energy
Measurement of dose profile in a water
phantom
The off-axis ratio (OAR)
• Dose distributions along the beam central axis give only part of the
information required for an accurate dose description inside the
patient.

• Dose distributions in 2-D and 3-D are determined with central axis data
in conjunction with off-axis dose profiles.

• In the simplest form, the off-axis data are given with beam profiles
measured perpendicularly to the beam central axis at a given depth in
a phantom.
• The depths of measurement are typically at zmax and 10 cm for
verification of compliance with machine specifications, in addition to
other depths required by the particular treatment planning system
(TPS) used in the department.

• Combining a central axis dose distribution with off-axis data results in


a volume dose matrix that provides 2-D and 3-D information on the
dose distribution.

• The off-axis ratio (OAR) is usually defined as the ratio of dose at an off-
axis point to the dose on the central beam axis at the same depth in a
phantom.
If dose is prescribed to a point outside of the central axis, an OAR must be
included:

OAR is defined as 1.0 at the central axis.


• OAR changes with depth due to flattening filter
effects:
• –– The beam is flat (OAR = 1.0) at 10 cm depth.
• –– Shallow: Edges hotter than center (OAR > 1.0).
• • These hot spots are called the beam “horns.” Photon beam horns.

• –– Deep: Center hotter than edges (OAR < 1.0).


In a megavoltage beam, there is much less filtration on the beam edges than in the
center. For this reason, the beam edges are hot superficially, but cold at depth.

 In a wedged field:
–– OAR < < 1.0 at the heel.
–– OAR > > 1.0 at the toes.
Wedge angle: due to beam hardening, the “heel” of the wedge is more penetrating than the
“toe”. This causes the isodose lines to become less sharply angled with depth.
Isodose curves
• Isodose curves are prepared by combining
the points in the phantom or target tissue
that receive the same dose.
• They are calculated by various dosimetric
measurements, and the highest dose is
considered 100%.
• The curves are placed in percentage order,
and then used to create the dose distribution
graphics for the target tissue and the energy
of interest.
• By using the isodose curves during treatment
planning, the dose distribution of the
radiation delivered to the target tissue and
neighboring structures can be seen from
different angles.
• Isodose lines represent radiation dose in a 2D fashion,
• In a plot of isodose curves, the y-axis shows the depth below the surface of the
skin, while the x-axis shows the range of the field.
• In the penumbral region of the dose profile the
dose changes rapidly and depends also on the
field defining collimators, the finite size of the
focal spot (source size) and the lateral
electronic disequilibrium.

• The dose falloff around the geometric beam


edge is sigmoid in shape and extends under the
collimator jaws into the penumbral tail region,
where there is a small component of dose due
to the transmission through the collimator jaws
(transmission penumbra), a component
attributed to finite source size (geometric
penumbra) and a significant component due to
in-patient x ray scatter (scatter penumbra).
• The physical penumbra is the penumbra measured in the dose profile.
• It is the distance between the points at which the 20 and 80% isodose curves
cross the x-axis at Dmax.
 There are several components to the physical penumbra:
• Geometrical penumbra: This occurs due to the size of the source; large sources
have larger geometrical penumbras.
• Transmission penumbra: This occurs due to the beam emerging from the edges
of blocks or collimators, It can be decreased by making sure that the shapes of
the focalized blocks take into account the beam divergence.
• Scatter penumbra: significant component due to in-patient x ray scatter.

 The total penumbra is referred to as the physical penumbra and is the sum of
the three individual penumbras: transmission, geometric and scatter.
 The physical penumbra depends on beam energy, source size, SSD, source to
collimator distance and depth in a phantom.
Thank
you

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