Dose calculation methods for photon beams are reviewed in the context of radiation therapy treatment planning. Following introductory summaries on photon beam characteristics and clinical requirements on dose calculations, calculation methods are described in order of increasing explicitness of panicle transport. The simplest are dose ratio factorisations limited to point dose estimates useful for checking other more general, but also more complex, approaches.
Some methods incorporate detailed modelling of scatter dose through differentiation of measured data combined with various integration techniques. State-of-the-art methods based on point or pencil kernels, which are derived through Monte Carlo simulations, to characterise secondary panicle transport are presented in some detail. Explicit panicle transport methods, such as Monte Carlo. are briefly summarised.
The extensive literature on beam characterisation and handling of treatment head scatter is reviewed in the context of providing phase space data for kernel based and/or direct Monte Carlo dose calculations. Finally, a brief overview of inverse methods for optimisation and dose reconstruction is provided.
Ahnesjö A, Aspradakis MM. Dose calculations for external photon beams in radiotherapy. Phys. Med. Biol. 44 (1999) R99-R155.
Dr. Maria Mania Aspradakis, NGH Unit, Newcastle upon Tyne. Tel: +44 (0)191-233-6161.
Regional Medical Physics Department, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7DN, UK.
Tel: +44 (0)191-233-6161 E-mail: webmaster@rmpd.org.uk Web: http://www.rmpd.org.uk
By using this site you agree to our Terms and Conditions of Use. Please read our legal page.
Regional Medical Physics Department, a Clinical Directorate of the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Copyright ©1999-2008 All Rights Reserved. Revised 7 November, 2008.
