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External Photon Beams: Physical Aspects
External Photon Beams: Physical Aspects
Physical Aspects
This slide set is based on Chapter 6,
authored by: E.B. Podgorsak
of the
IAEA textbook:
Radiation Oncology Physics:
A Handbook for Teachers and Students
Objective:
To familiarize the student with the basic principles of dose
calculations in external beam radiotherapy with photon beams.
IAEA
International Atomic Energy Agency
CHAPTER 6. TABLE OF CONTENTS
6.1. Introduction
6.2. Quantities used in describing a photon beam
6.3. Photon beam sources
6.4. Inverse square law
6.5. Penetration of photon beams into a phantom or patient
6.6. Radiation treatment parameters
6.7. Central axis depth doses in water: SSD set-up
6.8. Central axis depth doses in water: SAD set-up
6.9. Off-axis ratios and beam profiles
6.10. Isodose distributions in water phantoms
6.11. Single field isodose distributions in patients
6.12. Clarkson segmental integration
6.13. Relative dose measurements with ionization chambers
6.14. Delivery of dose with a single external beam
6.15. Shutter correction time
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.1 INTRODUCTION
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.1 INTRODUCTION
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.2 QUANTITIES USED IN DESCRIBING PHOTON BEAMS
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.2 QUANTITIES USED IN DESCRIBING PHOTON BEAMS
6.2.1 Photon fluence and photon fluence rate
dN
Photon fluence
dA
• dN is the number of photons that enter an imaginary sphere of
cross-sectional area dA.
• Unit of photon fluence is cm-2.
d
Photon fluence rate dt is defined as photon
fluence per unit time.
• Unit of photon fluence rate is cm-2 . s-1.
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.2 QUANTITIES USED IN DESCRIBING PHOTON BEAMS
6.2.2 Energy fluence and energy fluence rate
dE
Energy fluence
dA
• dE is the amount of energy crossing a unit area dA.
• Unit of energy fluence is MeV cm-2 .
d
Energy fluence rate is defined as the energy
dt
fluence per unit time.
2 1
• Unit of energy fluence rate is MeV cm s
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.2 QUANTITIES USED IN DESCRIBING PHOTON BEAMS
6.2.3 Air kerma in air
tr tr
(K air )air h
air air
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.2 QUANTITIES USED IN DESCRIBING PHOTON BEAMS
6.2.3 Air kerma in air
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.2 QUANTITIES USED IN DESCRIBING PHOTON BEAMS
6.2.3 Air kerma in air
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.2 QUANTITIES USED IN DESCRIBING PHOTON BEAMS
6.2.4 Exposure in air
col
Collision air kerma in air (K air )air and exposure in air X
Wair
col
(K )
air air X (Wair /e ) 33.97 J/C.
e
(Wair /e ) is the average energy required to produce an ion pair in dry air.
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.2 QUANTITIES USED IN DESCRIBING PHOTON BEAMS
6.2.5 Dose to small mass of medium in air
The concept “dose to small mass of medium in air” Dmed
also referred to as “dose in free space” is based on
measurement of air kerma in air.
is subject to same limitations as exposure X and
Dmed
col
collision air kerma in air air )air
(K
• Defined only for photons.
• Defined only for photon energies below 3 MeV.
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.2 QUANTITIES USED IN DESCRIBING PHOTON BEAMS
6.2.5 Dose to small mass of medium in air
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.2 QUANTITIES USED IN DESCRIBING PHOTON BEAMS
6.2.5 Dose to small mass of medium in air
from MP
Steps involved in the determination of Dmed
MP X P (K air )air (K m )air (Kmed )air Dmed
Step: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
• MP signal measured at point P in air.
• XP exposure at point P in air.
• (K air )air
air kerma in air at point P.
• (K m )air collision kerma to m, an infinitesimal mass of medium at P.
• (K med )air collision kerma to a spherical mass of medium with radius
rmed at P.
• Dmed dose to small mass of medium at point P.
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.2 QUANTITIES USED IN DESCRIBING PHOTON BEAMS
6.2.5 Dose to small mass of medium in air
Steps involved in the calculation of Dmed
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.2 QUANTITIES USED IN DESCRIBING PHOTON BEAMS
6.2.5 Dose to small mass of medium in air
Determination of Dmed
cGy ab
m
Dmed 0.876 k (rmed ) XP fmed k (rmed ) XP
R air
• k (rmed ) is a correction factor accounting for the photon beam
attenuation in the spherical mass of medium with radius rmed just
large enough to provide electronic equilibrium at point P.
ab rmed
med
• k (rmed ) is given by: k (rmed ) e
• For water as the medium k(rmed ) 0.985 for cobalt-60 gamma rays
and equal to 1 for lower photon energies.
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.3 PHOTON SOURCES FOR EXTERNAL BEAM THERAPY
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.3 PHOTON SOURCES FOR EXTERNAL BEAM THERAPY
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.3 PHOTON SOURCES FOR EXTERNAL BEAM THERAPY
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.3 PHOTON SOURCES FOR EXTERNAL BEAM THERAPY
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.4 INVERSE SQUARE LAW
• Beams produced by
photon sources are
assumed to be
divergent.
a/2 b/2
tan
fa fb
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.4 INVERSE SQUARE LAW
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.4 INVERSE SQUARE LAW
Quantities X , (K col
) , and Dmed
air air
all follow the inverse square law.
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.5 PENETRATION OF PHOTON BEAMS INTO PATIENT
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.5 PENETRATION OF PHOTON BEAMS INTO PATIENT
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.5 PENETRATION OF PHOTON BEAMS INTO PATIENT
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.5 PENETRATION OF PHOTON BEAMS INTO PATIENT
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.5 PENETRATION OF PHOTON BEAMS INTO PATIENT
6.5.1 Surface dose
Surface dose:
• For megavoltage x-ray beams the
surface dose is generally much
lower (skin sparing effect) than the
maximum dose at zmax.
• For superficial and orthovoltage
beams zmax = 0 and the surface
dose equals the maximum dose.
• The surface dose is measured with
parallel-plate ionization chambers
for both chamber polarities, with
the average reading between the
two polarities taken as the correct
surface dose value.
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.5 PENETRATION OF PHOTON BEAMS INTO PATIENT
6.5.1 Surface dose
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.5 PENETRATION OF PHOTON BEAMS INTO PATIENT
6.5.2 Buildup region
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.5 PENETRATION OF PHOTON BEAMS INTO PATIENT
6.5.3 Depth of dose maximum
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.5 PENETRATION OF PHOTON BEAMS INTO PATIENT
6.5.3 Depth of dose maximum zmax
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.5 PENETRATION OF PHOTON BEAMS INTO PATIENT
6.5.3 Exit dose
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.6 RADIATION TREATMENT PARAMETERS
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.6 RADIATION TREATMENT PARAMETERS
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.6 RADIATION TREATMENT PARAMETERS
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.6 RADIATION TREATMENT PARAMETERS
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.6 RADIATION TREATMENT PARAMETERS
6.6.1 Radiation beam field size
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.6 RADIATION TREATMENT PARAMETERS
6.6.1 Radiation beam field size
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.6 RADIATION TREATMENT PARAMETERS
6.6.2 Collimator factor
Exposure in air Xair, air kerma in air (Kair)air and dose to small
contain two components:
mass of medium in air Dmed
• Primary component is the major component.
It originates in the source, comes directly from the source, and does
not depend on field size.
• Scatter component is a minor, yet non-negligible, component.
It represents the scatter from the collimator, air and flattening filter (in
linacs) and depends on the field size A.
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.6 RADIATION TREATMENT PARAMETERS
6.6.2 Collimator factor
depend upon:
Xair, (Kair)air, and Dmed
• Field size A
• Parameter called the collimator factor (CF)
or
collimator scatter factor Sc
or
relative exposure factor (REF).
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.6 RADIATION TREATMENT PARAMETERS
6.6.2 Collimator factor
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.6 RADIATION TREATMENT PARAMETERS
6.6.3 Peak scatter factor
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.6 RADIATION TREATMENT PARAMETERS
6.6.3 Peak scatter factor
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.6 RADIATION TREATMENT PARAMETERS
6.6.3 Peak scatter factor
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.6 RADIATION TREATMENT PARAMETERS
6.6.3 Peak scatter factor
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.6 RADIATION TREATMENT PARAMETERS
6.6.3 Peak scatter factor
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.6 RADIATION TREATMENT PARAMETERS
6.6.3 Peak scatter factor
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.6 RADIATION TREATMENT PARAMETERS
6.6.4 Relative dose factor
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.6 RADIATION TREATMENT PARAMETERS
6.6.4 Relative dose factor
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.6 RADIATION TREATMENT PARAMETERS
6.6.4 Relative dose factor
DP ( zmax , A, f , h )
RDF( A, h ) Sc,p ( A, h )
DP ( zmax ,10, f , h )
DP ( A, h ) PSF( A, h )
CF( A, h ) SF( A, h )
DP (10, h ) PSF(10, h )
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.6 RADIATION TREATMENT PARAMETERS
6.6.4 Relative dose factor
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.6 RADIATION TREATMENT PARAMETERS
6.6.4 Relative dose factor
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.7 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SSD SETUP
6.7.1 Percentage depth dose
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.7 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SSD SETUP
6.7.1 Percentage depth dose
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.7 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SSD SETUP
6.7.1 Percentage depth dose
eff is the effective linear attenuation coefficient for the primary beam
in the phantom material (for example, eff for a cobalt-60 beam in
water is 0.0657 cm-1).
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.7 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SSD SETUP
6.7.1 Percentage depth dose
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.7 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SSD SETUP
6.7.1 Percentage depth dose
Example:
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.7 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SSD SETUP
6.7.1 Percentage depth dose
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.7 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SSD SETUP
6.7.1 Percentage depth dose
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.7 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SSD SETUP
6.7.1 Percentage depth dose
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.7 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SSD SETUP
6.7.1 Percentage depth dose
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.7 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SSD SETUP
6.7.1 Percentage depth dose
For a constant
z, A, and f,
PDD(z,A,f, h )
beyond zmax
increases with
beam energy h
because of a
decrease in beam
attenuation, i.e.,
increase in beam
penetrating power.
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.7 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SSD SETUP
6.7.1 Percentage depth dose
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.7 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SSD SETUP
6.7.2 Scatter function
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.7 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SSD SETUP
6.7.2 Scatter function
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.7 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SSD SETUP
6.7.2 Scatter function
Scatter component at Q
S(z,A,f ,h )
DP ( 100 cGy)
PSF(A,h ) PDD(z,A,f ,h ) PSF(0,h ) PDD(z,0,f ,h )
PDD( z,0, f , h )
2
f zmax ab ( z zmax )
100 e
f z
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.7 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SSD SETUP
6.7.2 Scatter function
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.7 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SSD SETUP
6.7.2 Scatter function
For a constant z,
f, and h the
scatter function
S increases with
field size A.
At large field
sizes the scatter
function S
saturates.
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.7 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SSD SETUP
6.7.2 Scatter function
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.7 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SSD SETUP
6.7.2 Scatter function
Dependence of
scatter function S
on SSD.
For a constant z,
A, and h , the
scatter function S
increases with
SSD.
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.8 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SAD SETUP
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.8 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SAD SETUP
6.8.1 Tissue-air ratio
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.8 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SAD SETUP
6.8.1 Tissue-air ratio
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.8 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SAD SETUP
6.8.1 Tissue-air ratio
DQ
TAR(z,AQ ,h )
DQ
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.8 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SAD SETUP
6.8.1 Tissue-air ratio
• TAR(10,0,Co) 0.536
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.8 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SAD SETUP
6.8.1 Tissue-air ratio
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.8 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SAD SETUP
6.8.1 Tissue-air ratio
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.8 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SAD SETUP
6.8.1 Tissue-air ratio
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.8 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SAD SETUP
6.8.1 Tissue-air ratio
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.8 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SAD SETUP
6.8.2 Relationship between TAR and PDD
Basic definitions:
DQ
• PDD(z,A,f ,h ) 100
DP
DQ
• TAR(z,AQ ,h ) D
P
PDD(z,A,f ,h )
DQ DP DQ TAR(z,AQ ,h )
100
2
f z
DP DP PSF( A, h ) DQ PSF( A, h )
f zmax
2
PDD( z, A, f , h ) f z
TAR( z, AQ , h ) PSF( A, h )
100 f zmax
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.8 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SAD SETUP
6.8.2 Relationship between TAR and PDD
2
PDD( z, A, f , h ) f z
TAR( z, AQ , h ) PSF( A, h )
100 f zmax
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.8 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SAD SETUP
6.8.2 Relationship between TAR and PDD
2
PDD( z, A, f , h ) f z
TAR( z, AQ , h ) PSF( A, h )
100 f zmax
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.8 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SAD SETUP
6.8.2 Relationship between TAR and PDD
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.8 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SAD SETUP
6.8.2 Relationship between TAR and PDD
PDD( z, A, f1, h )
PDD( z, A, f2 , h )
2
f1 zmax
TAR( z, AQ1 , h ) f1 z
f z
TAR( z, AQ2 , h ) 2 max
f2 z
Mayneord factor
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.8 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SAD SETUP
6.8.2 Relationship between TAR and PDD
PDD( z, A, f1, h )
PDD( z, A, f2 , h )
2
f1 zmax
PSF( A2 , h ) f1 z
f z
PSF( A1, h ) 2 max
f2 z
Mayneord factor
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.8 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SAD SETUP
6.8.3 Scatter-air ratio SAR
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.8 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SAD SETUP
6.8.4 Relationship between SAR and scatter function S
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.8 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SAD SETUP
6.8.5 Tissue-phantom ratio TPR and Tissue-maximum ratio TMR
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.8 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SAD SETUP
6.8.5 Tissue-phantom ratio TPR and Tissue-maximum ratio TMR
DQ
TMR(z,AQ ,h )
DQ
max
• DQ is the dose at
point Q at depth z
• DQmax is the dose at
depth zmax.
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.8 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SAD SETUP
6.8.5 Tissue-phantom ratio TPR and Tissue-maximum ratio TMR
Just like the TAR, the TPR and TMR depend on three
parameters: z, AQ, and h but do not depend on the
SAD or SSD.
The range of TMR is from 0 for z to 1 for z = zmax.
For constant AQ and h the TMR decreases with
increasing z.
For constant z and h the TMR increases with
increasing AQ.
For constant z and AQ the TMR increases with
h .
increasing
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.8 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SAD SETUP
6.8.6 Relationship between TMR and PDD
DQ
PDD(z,A,f ,h ) 100
DP
DQ
TMR(z,AQ ,h )
DQ
max
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.8 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SAD SETUP
6.8.6 Relationship between TMR and PDD
PDD(z,A,f ,h )
DQ DP DQ TMR(z,AQ ,h )
100 max
2
f z
DP DP PSF( A, h ) DQ PSF( A, h )
f zmax
2
PDD( z, A, f , h ) PSF( A, h ) f z
TMR( z, AQ , h )
100 PSF( AQ , h ) f zmax
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.8 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SAD SETUP
6.8.6 Relationship between TMR and PDD
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.8 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SAD SETUP
6.8.7 Scatter-maximum ratio SMR
eff
• where is the effective attenuation coefficient for the mega-
voltage photon beam energy.
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.8 CENTRAL AXIS DEPTH DOSES IN WATER: SAD SETUP
6.8.7 Scatter-maximum ratio SMR
h
SMR(z,AQ, ) is then expressed as:
SF(AQ ,h )
SMR(z,AQ ,h ) TMR(z,AQ ,h ) TMR(z,0,h )
SF(0,h )
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.9 OFF-AXIS RATIOS AND BEAM PROFILES
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.9 OFF-AXIS RATIOS AND BEAM PROFILES
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.9 OFF-AXIS RATIOS AND BEAM PROFILES
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.9 OFF-AXIS RATIOS AND BEAM PROFILES
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.9 OFF-AXIS RATIOS AND BEAM PROFILES
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.9 OFF-AXIS RATIOS AND BEAM PROFILES
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.9 OFF-AXIS RATIOS AND BEAM PROFILES
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.9 OFF-AXIS RATIOS AND BEAM PROFILES
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.9 OFF-AXIS RATIOS AND BEAM PROFILES
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.9 OFF-AXIS RATIOS AND BEAM PROFILES
6.9.1 Beam flatness
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.9 OFF-AXIS RATIOS AND BEAM PROFILES
6.9.1 Beam flatness
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.9 OFF-AXIS RATIOS AND BEAM PROFILES
6.9.1 Beam flatness
Dmax Dmin
F 100
Dmax Dmin
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.9 OFF-AXIS RATIOS AND BEAM PROFILES
6.9.2 Beam symmetry
• Areas under the zmax beam profile on each side (left and right) of
the central axis extending to the 50% dose level (normalized to
100% at the central axis point) are determined.
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.9 OFF-AXIS RATIOS AND BEAM PROFILES
6.9.2 Beam symmetry
S is calculated from
arealeft arearight
S 100
arealeft arearight
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.9 OFF-AXIS RATIOS AND BEAM PROFILES
6.9.2 Beam symmetry
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.10 ISODOSE DISTRIBUTIONS IN WATER PHANTOMS
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.10 ISODOSE DISTRIBUTIONS IN WATER PHANTOMS
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.10 ISODOSE DISTRIBUTIONS IN WATER PHANTOMS
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.10 ISODOSE DISTRIBUTIONS IN WATER PHANTOMS
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.10 ISODOSE DISTRIBUTIONS IN WATER PHANTOMS
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.10 ISODOSE DISTRIBUTIONS IN WATER PHANTOMS
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.10 ISODOSE DISTRIBUTIONS IN WATER PHANTOMS
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.10 ISODOSE DISTRIBUTIONS IN WATER PHANTOMS
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.10 ISODOSE DISTRIBUTIONS IN WATER PHANTOMS
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.11 SINGLE FIELD ISODOSE DISTRIBUTIONS IN PATIENTS
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.11 SINGLE FIELD ISODOSE DISTRIBUTIONS IN PATIENTS
• Some tissues such as lung and bone have densities that differ
significantly from that of water, requiring corrections for tissue
heterogeneities (also called inhomogeneities).
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.11 SINGLE FIELD ISODOSE DISTRIBUTIONS IN PATIENTS
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.11 SINGLE FIELD ISODOSE DISTRIBUTIONS IN PATIENTS
6.11.1 Corrections for irregular contours and beam obliquity
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.11 SINGLE FIELD ISODOSE DISTRIBUTIONS IN PATIENTS
6.11.1 Corrections for irregular contours and beam obliquity
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.11 SINGLE FIELD ISODOSE DISTRIBUTIONS IN PATIENTS
6.11.1 Corrections for irregular contours and beam obliquity
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.11 SINGLE FIELD ISODOSE DISTRIBUTIONS IN PATIENTS
6.11.1 Corrections for irregular contours and beam obliquity
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.11 SINGLE FIELD ISODOSE DISTRIBUTIONS IN PATIENTS
6.11.1 Corrections for irregular contours and beam obliquity
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.11 SINGLE FIELD ISODOSE DISTRIBUTIONS IN PATIENTS
6.11.1 Corrections for irregular contours and beam obliquity
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.11 SINGLE FIELD ISODOSE DISTRIBUTIONS IN PATIENTS
6.11.2 Missing tissue compensation
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.11 SINGLE FIELD ISODOSE DISTRIBUTIONS IN PATIENTS
6.11.2 Missing tissue compensation
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.11 SINGLE FIELD ISODOSE DISTRIBUTIONS IN PATIENTS
6.11.2 Missing tissue compensation
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.11 SINGLE FIELD ISODOSE DISTRIBUTIONS IN PATIENTS
6.11.2 Missing tissue compensation
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.11 SINGLE FIELD ISODOSE DISTRIBUTIONS IN PATIENTS
6.11.2 Missing tissue compensation
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.11 SINGLE FIELD ISODOSE DISTRIBUTIONS IN PATIENTS
6.11.3 Corrections for tissue inhomogeneities
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.11 SINGLE FIELD ISODOSE DISTRIBUTIONS IN PATIENTS
6.11.3 Corrections for tissue inhomogeneities
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.11 SINGLE FIELD ISODOSE DISTRIBUTIONS IN PATIENTS
6.11.3 Corrections for tissue inhomogeneities
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.11 SINGLE FIELD ISODOSE DISTRIBUTIONS IN PATIENTS
6.11.3 Corrections for tissue inhomogeneities
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.11 SINGLE FIELD ISODOSE DISTRIBUTIONS IN PATIENTS
6.11.3 Corrections for tissue inhomogeneities
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.11 SINGLE FIELD ISODOSE DISTRIBUTIONS IN PATIENTS
6.11.3 Corrections for tissue inhomogeneities
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.11 SINGLE FIELD ISODOSE DISTRIBUTIONS IN PATIENTS
6.11.4 Model based algorithms
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.11 SINGLE FIELD ISODOSE DISTRIBUTIONS IN PATIENTS
6.11.4 Model based algorithms
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.11 SINGLE FIELD ISODOSE DISTRIBUTIONS IN PATIENTS
6.11.4 Model based algorithms
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.12 CLARKSON SEGMENTAL INTEGRATION
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.12 CLARKSON SEGMENTAL INTEGRATION
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.12 CLARKSON SEGMENTAL INTEGRATION
An assumption is made
that a sector with a given
field radius contributes
1/N of the total circular
field value to the value of
a given function F for the
irregular field at point Q.
N is the number of
sectors in a full circular
field of 360o.
• N = 36 for manual
calculations.
• N = 72 for computer
calculations.
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.12 CLARKSON SEGMENTAL INTEGRATION
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.12 CLARKSON SEGMENTAL INTEGRATION
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.12 SINGLE FIELD ISODOSE DISTRIBUTIONS IN PATIENTS
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.12 SINGLE FIELD ISODOSE DISTRIBUTIONS IN PATIENTS
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.13 RELATIVE DOSE MEASUREMENTS WITH IONIZATION
CHAMBERS
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.13 RELATIVE DOSE MEASUREMENTS WITH IONIZATION
CHAMBERS
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.13 RELATIVE DOSE MEASUREMENTS WITH IONIZATION
CHAMBERS
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.13 RELATIVE DOSE MEASUREMENTS WITH IONIZATION
CHAMBERS
Relative dose
distributions for
photon beams
beyond zmax are
usually measured
with small volume
(0.1 cm3) ionization
chambers in order
to obtain good
spatial resolution.
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.13 RELATIVE DOSE MEASUREMENTS WITH IONIZATION
CHAMBERS
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.13 RELATIVE DOSE MEASUREMENTS WITH IONIZATION
CHAMBERS
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.14 DELIVERY OF DOSE WITH A SINGLE EXTERNAL BEAM
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.14 DELIVERY OF DOSE WITH A SINGLE EXTERNAL BEAM
D ( z ,10,100, h ) 1 cGy/MU
P max
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.14 DELIVERY OF DOSE WITH A SINGLE EXTERNAL BEAM
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.14 DELIVERY OF DOSE WITH A SINGLE EXTERNAL BEAM
TD
stands for tumour dose rate.
D P ( zmax ,10,100, h ) 1 cGy/MU
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.14 DELIVERY OF DOSE WITH A SINGLE EXTERNAL BEAM
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.14 DELIVERY OF DOSE WITH A SINGLE EXTERNAL BEAM
D P ( zmax ,10,100, h )
1 cGy/MU
D P ( zmax , A,100, h )
D ( z ,10,100, h )
P max
RDF( A, h )
For zref zmax ,
TPR TMR and D Qref D Qmax
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.15 EXAMPLE OF DOSE CALCULATION
General answer
for SSD approach:
2
D(10,20,140,Co) PDD(10,20,140,Co) PSF(20,Co) CF(11.4,Co) 80.5
D(15,15,80,Co) PDD(10,20,140,Co) PSF(15,Co) CF(15,Co) 140.5
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.15 EXAMPLE OF DOSE CALCULATION
General answer
for SAD approach:
2
D (10,20,140,Co) TAR(10,21.4,Co) CF(11.4,Co) 95
D(15,15,80,Co) TAR(15,17.8,Co) CF(15,Co) 150
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.16 SHUTTER CORRECTION TIME
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.16 SHUTTER CORRECTION TIME
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.16 SHUTTER CORRECTION TIME
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1
6.16 SHUTTER CORRECTION TIME
IAEA Radiation Oncology Physics: A Handbook for Teachers and Students - 6.1 Slide 1