Background: Monte Carlo (MC) modeling of a linear accelerator is a prerequisite for Monte Carlo dose calculations in external beam radiotherapy. In this study, a simple and efficient model was developed for Elekta SL-25 linear accelerator using MCNP4C Monte Carlo code Materials and methods: The head of Elekta SL-25 linac was simulated for 6 and 18 MV photon beams using MCNP4C MC code. Energ...

Introduction: One of scientific concern is increasing of unwanted neutron dose to the patient, in head and neck radiation therapy due to the presence of some isotopes in dental restorations and head of medical linac. The aim of this study is to measure the equivalent dose of thermal and fast neutron due to head of Siemens Primus Linac and a healthy tooth, Amalgam, Ni-Cr alloy a...

The purpose of this study was to report the characteristics of an equivalent quality unflattened (eqUF) photon beam in clinical implementation and to provide a generalized method to describe unflattened (UF) photon beam profiles. An unflattened photon beam with a beam quality equivalent to the corresponding flat 6 MV photon beam (WF) was obtained by removing the flattening filter from a Siemens...

PURPOSE To evaluate the uncertainties and characteristics of radiochromic film-based dosimetry system using the EBT3 model Gafchromic(®) film in therapy photon, electron and proton beams. MATERIAL AND METHODS EBT3 films were read using an EPSON Expression 10000XL/PRO scanner. They were irradiated in five beams, an Elekta SL25 6 MV and 18 MV photon beam, an IBA 100 MeV 5 × 5 cm(2) proton beam ...

background: the aim of this work was to study the output factors for linac using different ionization chambers and build up caps. materials and methods: output factors were measured for open square fields (3 × 3 cm to 40 × 40 cm) defined by collimator jaws for 6 and 15 mv photon beams from a varian clinac 2100c accelerator were measured. the measurements in air were performed using compact cyli...

Purpose: To quantify the DNA damage induced in a clinical megavoltage photon beam at various depths in and out of the field. Methods and Materials: MCNPX was used to simulate 10x10 cm and 20x20 cm 10 MV photon beams from a clinical linear accelerator. Photon and electron spectra were collected in a water phantom at depths of 2.5, 12.5 and 22.5 cm on the central axis and at off-axis points out t...

Many lung cancer patients who undergo radiation therapy are treated with higher energy photons (15-18 MV) to obtain deeper penetration and better dose uniformity. However, the longer range of the higher energy recoil electrons in the low-density medium may cause lateral electronic disequilibrium and degrade the target coverage. To compare the dose homogeneity achieved with lower versus higher e...

The purpose of this study is to report the dosimetric aspects of commissioning performed on an Elekta Versa HD linear accelerator (linac) with high-dose-rate flattening filter-free (FFF) photon modes and electron modes. Acceptance and commissioning was performed on the Elekta Versa HD linac with five photon energies (6 MV, 10 MV, 18 MV, 6 MV FFF, 10 MV FFF), four electron energies (6 MeV, 9MeV,...

BACKGROUND This study seeks to increase clinical operational efficiency and accelerator beam consistency by retrospectively investigating the application of statistical process control (SPC) to linear accelerator beam steering parameters to determine the utility of such a methodology in detecting changes prior to equipment failure (interlocks actuated). METHODS Steering coil currents (SCC) fo...

INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE Conventional x-ray films and radiochromic films have inherent challenges for high precision radiotherapy dosimetry. Here we have investigated basic characteristics of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) of irradiated films containing carbon-doped aluminum oxide (Al2O3:C) for dosimetry in therapeutic photon and electron beams. MATERIALS AND METHODS The OSL films co...