Estimating the absolute flux distribution for a synchrotron X-ray beam using ionization-chamber measurements with various filters

A commercial treatment planning system with a hybrid dose calculation algorithm for synchrotron radiotherapy trials

Synchrotron Radiotherapy (SyncRT) is a preclinical radiation treatment which delivers synchrotron x-rays to cancer targets. SyncRT allows for novel treatments such as Microbeam Radiotherapy, which has been shown to have exceptional healthy tissue sparing capabilities while maintaining good tumour control. Veterinary trials in SyncRT are anticipated to take place in the near future at the Australian Synchrotron's Imaging and Medical Beamline (IMBL). However, before veterinary trials can commence, a computerised treatment planning system (TPS) is required, which can quickly and accurately calculate the synchrotron x-ray dose through patient CT images. Furthermore, SyncRT TPS's must be familiar and intuitive to radiotherapy planners in order to alleviate necessary training and reduce user error. We have paired an accurate and fast Monte Carlo (MC) based SyncRT dose calculation algorithm with Eclipse^TM, the most widely implemented commercial TPS in the clinic. Using Eclipse^TM, we have performed preliminary SyncRT trials on dog cadavers at the IMBL, and verified calculated doses against dosimetric measurement to within 5% for heterogeneous tissue-equivalent phantoms. We have also performed a validation of the TPS against a full MC simulation for constructed heterogeneous phantoms in Eclipse^TM, and showed good agreement for a range of water-like tissues to within 5%-8%. Our custom Eclipse^TM TPS for SyncRT is ready to perform live veterinary trials at the IMBL.

A Monte Carlo model of synchrotron radiotherapy shows good agreement with experimental dosimetry measurements: Data from the imaging and medical beamline at the Australian Synchrotron

Experimental measurement of Synchrotron Radiotherapy (SyncRT) doses is challenging, especially for Microbeam Radiotherapy (MRT), which is characterised by very high dynamic ranges with spatial resolutions on the micrometer scale. Monte Carlo (MC) simulation is considered a gold standard for accurate dose calculation in radiotherapy, and is therefore routinely relied upon to produce verification data. We present a MC model for Australian Synchrotron's Imaging and Medical Beamline (IMBL), which is capable of generating accurate dosimetry data to inform and/or verify SyncRT experiments. Our MC model showed excellent agreement with dosimetric measurement for Synchrotron Broadbeam Radiotherapy (SBBR). Our MC model is also the first to achieve validation for MRT, using two methods of dosimetry, to within clinical tolerances of 5% for a 20×20 mm² field size, except for surface measurements at 5 mm depth, which remained to within good agreement of 7.5%. Our experimental methodology has allowed us to control measurement uncertainties for MRT doses to within 5-6%, which has also not been previously achieved, and provides a confidence which until now has been lacking in MRT validation studies. The MC model is suitable for SyncRT dose calculation of clinically relevant field sizes at the IMBL, and can be extended to include medical beamlines at other Synchrotron facilities as well. The presented MC model will be used as a validation tool for treatment planning dose calculation algorithms, and is an important step towards veterinary SyncRT trials at the Australian Synchrotron.

CT dosimetry at the Australian Synchrotron for 25-100 keV photons and 35-160 mm-diameter biological specimens

The dose length product (DLP) method for medical computed tomography (CT) dosimetry is applied on the Australian Synchrotron Imaging and Medical Beamline (IMBL). Beam quality is assessed from copper transmission measurements using image receptors, finding near 100% (20 keV), 3.3% (25 keV) and 0.5% (30-40 keV) relative contributions from third-harmonic radiation. The flat-panel-array medical image receptor is found to have a non-linear dose response curve. The amount of radiation delivered during an axial CT scan is measured as the dose in air alone, and inside cylindrical PMMA phantoms with diameters 35-160 mm for mono-energetic radiation 25-100 keV. The radiation output rate for the IMBL is comparable with that used for medical CT. Results are presented as the ratios of CT dose indices (CTDI) inside phantoms to in air with no phantom. Ratios are compared for the IMBL against medical CT where bow-tie filters shape the beam profile to reduce the absorbed dose to surface organs. CTDI ratios scale measurements in air to estimate the volumetric CTDI representing the average dose per unit length, and the dose length product representing the absorbed dose to the scanned volume. Medical CT dose calculators use the DLP, beam quality, axial collimation and helical pitch to estimate organ doses and the effective dose. The effective dose per unit DLP for medical CT is presented as a function of body region, beam energy and sample sizes from neonate to adult.