Calculated and measured radiation dose for the low energy xoft axxent eBT X-ray source

PURPOSE

In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the functionality to deliver different prescription dose except 20 Gy for the Xoft Axxent Ebt (electronic Brachytherapy) system and analyzing the system in terms of radiation dosimetry in water and 0.9% isotonic Sodium Chloride (NaCl) solution.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the Xoft Axxent eBT, different prescription dose in single fraction were calculated for different balloon applicator volumes based on source position and irradiation times. EBT-XD Gafchromic film was calibrated at 6MV photon energy. A balloon applicator filled with 0.9% isotonic NaCl solution was used to deliver a radiation dose of 20 Gy, 16 Gy, 10 Gy on the applicator surface. Then the balloon applicator was filled with water and the same measurements were repeated. Finally, the balloon applicator was irradiated by positioning it at different distances in the water phantom to simulate the isodose contour.

RESULTS

At the time the balloon applicator was filled with water and 0,9% NaCl solution, the difference between the planned dose and the absorbed dose was ~ 2% vs. 15% for 30 cc, ~ 5% vs. 14% for 35 cc and ~ 3,5% vs. 10% for 40 cc respectively. Finally, the absorbed dose at a distance of 1 cm from the applicator surface was measured as 9.63 Gy.

CONCLUSION

In this study, it was showed that different prescription dose could be possible to deliver in the Xoft Axxent eBT system based on the standard plan. In addition, the absorbed dose was higher than the planned dose depending on the effective atomic number of NaCl solution comparing to water due to photoelectric effect in low energy photons. By measuring the dose distributions at different distances from the balloon applicator surface, the absorbed dose in tissue equivalent medium was determined and the isodose contours characteristics was simulated.

Comparison of the 2-D Dose Distribution Calculated by Planning System and Measured by Gafchromic Film Physical Dosimetry for 60Co and 192Ir Brachytherapy Sources

Background:

High Dose Rate (HDR) brachytherapy sources with high photon energy have been widely used in treating tumors. Dosimetric parameter of these brachytherapy sources should be determined according to the AAPM TG-43 recommendation. Gafchoromic films are reliable tools for this evaluation.

Objective:

The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare dose accuracy of the two-brachytherapy sources in a dedicated phantom.

Material and Methods:

In this analytical study, two common sources, including Cobalt and Iridium, were loaded into the dedicated phantom. The two-dimensional dose distribution around the source was calculated by TPS system for certain activities and geometries around the sources. Then, the experimental dose measured by Gafchromic film dosimetry was reported for different angles ranging from 0 to 180 degrees.

Results:

The difference between calculated and measured doses was less than 6 percent (-5 to +6 percent) for all of the channels and angles. These errors are smaller and mainly more than zero (D_film>D_TPS) for angles less than 20 and larger than 110 degrees. There is no statistically significant discrepancy in dose calculation by treatment planning system.

Conclusion:

Although the estimated error in dose calculation is not significant, there is still an opportunity to increase the treatment precision. The correlation between the error and the angle should be considered in further plans of brachytherapy. The present study showed comparable errors compared to results of other research studies.