Biomedical subjects

A Montelius

Publications and source records attributed to A Montelius.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1995

Dose calculations in proton beams: range straggling corrections and energy scaling.

Three-dimensional dose planning systems employing accurate proton transport algorithms are essential for calculating absorbed dose distributions in proton therapy. In this paper, a pencil beam algorithm for the transport of protons in materials of interest for radiation therapy is developed. The Fermi-Eyges multiple-scattering theory is used to derive transport equations for calculating proton fluence and absorbed dose distributions. The multiple-scattering theory of Molière is used to predict mean square scattering angles and to develop an expression for calculating the root mean square (RMS) radial spread of a proton pencil beam, as a function of depth, in an arbitrary scattering material. A correction factor is suggested to account for the decrease in the radial spread at the end of the range due to range straggling. The effects of neglecting large-angle scattering events and the possibility of incorporating such events into the pencil beam algorithm are discussed. An energy scaling technique for determining the water-equivalent surface energy at a given depth in a heterogeneous scattering medium is developed. The water-equivalent energy, giving the same Molière scattering parameter B in water, is determined and the 1/e angle in water is scaled to the appropriate width in the scattering material. By using stored analytically or Monte Carlo calculated pencil beam distributions in water, the large-angle single-scattering events may be incorporated by approximating the scattering in an arbitrary material by the scattering in water for protons of the appropriate water-equivalent surface energy.

Algorithms↗

PubMed1995

Ionization chamber dosimetry of proton beams using cylindrical and plane parallel chambers. Nw versus Nk ion chamber calibrations.

Determinations of the absorbed dose in a 170 MeV proton beam have been performed using seven ionization chambers of different types: five cylindrical (two FWT IC-18 and three NE-2571, of which one was modified to have the central electrode made of graphite) and two plane parallel (NACP-02 and Roos FK-6). The ionization was converted into absorbed dose in the proton beam according to the generalization of the formalism provided by the IAEA Code of Practice (TRS 277), which enables the use of the same equations for all kinds of beam used in radiotherapy. The absorbed dose obtained with the two IC-18 chambers, a chamber type commonly used as a reference in proton beams, was up to 1.5% lower than that obtained with the Farmer NE-2571 chamber, which was used as the reference in this work when calibration factors in terms of NK were used. To investigate this difference, experimental ND factors for six chambers (the two IC-18 chambers, the NACP-02, the FK-6 and two of the NE-2571 chambers) were determined in a high-energy electron beam. The procedure commonly recommended for plane parallel ion chambers was used for all the chambers, using the same reference chamber, a Farmer NE-2571. In the 170 MeV proton beam all the ND factors yielded consistent absorbed dose determinations within the estimated experimental uncertainties. This finding calls into question the value of the product kattkm for the IC-18 chamber given by the IAEA Code of Practice used in this comparison, and points at possible chamber to chamber variations that theoretical kattkm factors cannot predict. The investigations enabled the determination of the Pwall(60Co) factor of the Roos FK-6 plane parallel chamber, yielding 1.003 +/- 0.5%, and a correction for the effect of the aluminium central electrode of NE-2571 chambers in proton beams, equal to 1.003 +/- 0.4%. Two of the chambers (the plane parallel FK-6 and the modified cylindrical NE-2571) were provided with calibration factors in terms of absorbed dose to water, Nw, at the quality of 60Co by the Primary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory in Germany (PTB). Using the Nw formalism excellent agreement was found with the determination based on the experimental ND, giving support to the implementation of the NW procedure in therapeutic proton beams.

Humans↗

PubMed1994

Patient positioning for fractionated precision radiation treatment of targets in the head using fiducial markers.

When irradiating targets in the brain, an accurately localised dose is often needed. One crucial moment to achieve this is the positioning of the patient. We have developed a positioning method where the patient is immobilised with a bite block and a head mould, and where the position of the target is determined by X-ray imaging of fiducial markers that are placed in the patient's skull. A method for computing the transformation needed to move the target from the observed to the prescribed position and orientation is described. This method uses the information from two orthogonal X-ray images and takes measurement errors and data from three or more markers into account. Results from using the method clinically in proton beam therapy are given.

Algorithms↗

PubMed1994

A general solution to charged particle beam flattening using an optimized dual-scattering-foil technique, with application to proton therapy beams.

This paper describes a dual-scattering-foil technique for flattening of radiotherapeutic charged particle beams. A theory for optimization of shapes and thicknesses of the scattering foils is presented. The result is a universal optimal secondary-scatterer profile, which can be adapted to any charged particle beam by a simple scaling procedure. The calculation of the mean square scattering angle of the beam after passing through the scattering foils is done using the generalized Fermi-Eyges model for charged particle transport. It is shown that the fluence profile in the plane of interest can be made flat to better than 1% inside a predefined beam radius provided the shaped secondary scatterer has the universal radial thickness profile. The thicknesses of the two foils are optimized to minimize the total energy loss. The theory has been tested experimentally in an 180 MeV clinical proton beam. The measured distributions agree well with the calculations.

Electrons↗

PubMed1993

Relative biological effectiveness of intermediate energy protons. Comparisons with 60Co gamma-radiation using two cell lines.

Range modulated proton beams are used for radiotherapy of malignant tumours at several accelerator laboratories with the aim of introducing proton therapy as a clinical hospital-based therapy modality. Due to the finite range and the sharpness of the dose gradients, the dose to well defined target volumes can be raised without excessive irradiation of non-target tissue. The prescribed proton doses are determined in part on the basis of the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of the particular radiation quality. In this study, RBE values were determined for a proton beam with a maximal range of 33 mm, which corresponds to an energy of approximately 67 MeV. The range modulated depth-dose distribution, with a 20 mm extended Bragg peak, was mainly designed for high precision treatment of small targets such as uveal melanomas. The tested cell lines, LS-174T and V79-379A, were chosen because of their suitability for clonogenic assays. The cells were irradiated with single doses in the range 2-10 Gy at different depths in the extended peak region of the range modulated proton beam. RBE values were determined by comparing the doses needed to obtain the same reduction in colony formation (0.5, 0.1 and 0.01) as with the reference 60Co gamma source. The mean RBE value was 1.22 with a standard deviation of 0.08. The variations depended on both cell type and on the survival levels considered.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Backscatter radiation at tissue-titanium interfaces. Biological effects from diagnostic 65 kVp x-rays.

The induced secondary electrons from a metal surface by diagnostic x-rays are thought to contribute to cell damage near the tissue-metal boundaries of metal implants. Titanium implants are becoming increasingly more popular for tissue reconstructions and it is rather often desirable to take radiographs of the operated area. In this study we compared the biological effects of radiation on cultured mammalian test cells grown on titanium plates with the radiation effects on cells that were grown on plastic control plates. In order to study the acute radiation effects on cell growth it was necessary to work with rather high radiation doses (0.7-5 Gy). Photon energies, suitable for diagnostic radiography in odontology, 65 kV, were applied. We found that the cells grown on titanium plates were, in terms of the applied dose in the surrounding culture medium, more sensitive to the irradiations than the cells growing on plastic plates. The survival curve for the cells on titanium had a steeper slope, showed no shoulder in the low-dose region and looked like curves normally obtained for high LET radiation. It was not possible to resolve to what degree the titanium-dependent changes were due to an increased dose near the titanium surface or to a change in the radiobiological effectiveness. Although there was a significant decrease in cellular survival near the metal, postoperative intraoral radiography after titanium implantations need not be excluded. The maximal doses given in odontological x-ray examinations are less than 1 mGy and, if the results in this study are applied, the biological effects near the titanium implant will correspond to biological effects in soft tissue of doses less than 20 mGy which is lower than the doses that give acute effects. The risk of acute healing disturbances are significant only at much higher radiation doses.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Backscatter radiation at tissue-titanium interfaces. Analyses of biological effects from 60Co and protons.

It has been claimed that implanted metals can cause backscatter radiation in radiation therapy with a dose enhancement at the bone-metal and tissue-metal interfaces on the beam entrance side. Theoretical calculations and experimental measurements with ionization chambers have indicated that such effects might be significant. Titanium implants are increasingly used in oral and maxillo-facial surgery for reconstruction purposes. A more detailed knowledge of backscatter-induced effects is therefore desired when head and neck cancers in patients with implants are treated with radiotherapy. We have made comparisons of cell survival after irradiation of two types of cultured cells grown directly on titanium metal and on plastic control supports. The cell cultures were irradiated with either 60Co photons or range modulated protons. No significant differences in the colony-forming capacity were found between the irradiated cells grown on titanium and those grown on plastic control supports. This was the case for both radiation types and the results were also observed to be dose-independent. The only observed phenomena were that the two cell-lines differed in radiosensitivity and that protons gave higher biological effects than gamma radiation. The results show that there were no significant changes in cell survival at the interface between the tissue equivalent medium and titanium support indicating that a dose increase induced by backscatter radiation, which possibly could demolish the osseointegration or induce osteoradionecrosis, are minimal when high energy photons or range modulated protons are applied.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

The narrow proton beam therapy unit at the the Svedberg Laboratory in Uppsala.

The synchrocyclotron at the The Svedberg Laboratory (TSL) in Uppsala is now reconstructed and can presently operate with fixed frequency and proton energies up to 100 MeV. A first treatment room with a narrow proton beam unit for therapy of eye tumours is now in operation. Therapy of eye melanomas started in April, 1989 and during 1989 and 1990, 19 patients were treated with 72 MeV protons. The narrow beam unit provides a fixed horizontal beam and the patient is treated in a seated position. The present paper describes mainly the technical aspects of the unit which so far has been used only for eye melanomas. In the future, modifications of the unit will allow therapy of intracranial targets when higher proton energies are available. In its final form, the proton therapy facility at TSL will harbour a second treatment unit. Here a rotating gantry for 200 MeV protons will provide a broad beam, which will enable treatment of tumours located anywhere in the body.

Eye Neoplasms↗

PubMed1986

The dosimetry of bone irradiated by fast neutrons.

The previous work on the dosimetry of bone is briefly reviewed. A dosimetric theory for the response of detectors irradiated by fast neutrons is applied to the problem of bone dosimetry. In the theory the detector or cavity shape is characterised by distributions of chord lengths along which the neutron-produced charged particles travel and deposit energy. Cavities of different convex geometries can be treated. A simplified version of the theory uses a single mean chord length to characterise the cavity. The absorbed dose to individual marrow cavities in trabecular bone is calculated over a large range of marrow cavity size for monoenergetic neutrons ranging from 0.5 to 7.0 MeV and for 252Cf neutrons. The influence of cavity shape is explored by considering spheres and cylinders of different elongation. The difference in absorbed dose is not great. Also the simplified model using a single mean chord length gives results in close agreement with the results obtained with chord length distributions. The mean marrow dose to different human bones has been calculated in three ways. First by using measured chord length distributions for the marrow cavities in the bones, second by using a sphere with the same mean chord length as the measured distribution and third by applying the measured single mean chord length. The difference between the three approaches is small and the agreement is good with results obtained by other workers who used the Monte Carlo technique. The dose to the endosteal cell layer has also been calculated by approximating the layer with an infinite slab.

Adult↗

PubMed1984

Experimental examination of cavity ionisation theory applied to alpha-particle fields.

The form of a general theory of cavity ionisation is outlined and its applications to alpha-particle fields considered. The attenuation of the alpha particles within the cavity, which gives rise to the weighting factor in general cavity theory, is considered in detail and an appropriate treatment for alpha-particle fields developed. Apparatus, consisting of an ionisation chamber composed of electrodes emitting alpha rays, was constructed in order to impose a rigorous test on the theory in the most critical region of cavity size. The general theory of cavity ionisation as applied to alpha-particle fields is shown to be in close agreement with the experimental results. As in the case of photon and electron fields, it is possible to characterise a cavity by a single chord length (path length) but the charged particle energy spectrum and the variation of stopping power with energy must be considered in detail.

Alpha Particles↗

PubMed1984

The dosimetry of bone incorporating alpha-emitting radionuclides.

The previous work on the dosimetry of alpha-emitting radionuclides incorporated in bone is briefly reviewed. The application of cavity ionisation theory to problems of bone dosimetry is propounded and recent developments of the cavity theory for alpha particle fields are applied to bone dosimetry problems. The mean marrow dose over a large range of bone cavity size calculated by a simple theory using a mean chord length to characterise a cavity is compared with results of a more elaborate theory employing the chord length distribution for a sphere. The difference is not great. The influence of the shape of the cavity is explored by considering cylindrical cavities of different elongation. Data are presented for both volume-seeking and surface-seeking radioactive nuclides. The endosteal dose to a 10 mu layer is calculated as a function of cavity size for both volume-seeking and surface-seeking radioactive nuclides. The endosteal dose is also calculated for a surface seeker as a function of endosteal layer thickness. Finally, the results of these calculations are shown to be generally in good agreement with those of the calculations of earlier workers. It is concluded that a simple and reliable method of calculating the mean marrow dose and endosteal dose for both volume- and surface-seeking alpha emitters has been established.

Alpha Particles↗

PubMed1983

Neutron beam characteristics from 50 MeV protons on beryllium using a continuously variable multi-leaf collimator.

The dose distributional properties of a p(50) Be neutron beam using a continuously variable multi-leaf collimator are presented and compared with a 6 MV photon beam. The differences in physical dose delivery between these two radiation modalities are generally insignificant for radiation therapy, and stringent comparisons of neutron and photon treatments should therefore be possible. The flexibility in field shaping with the multi-leaf collimator opens new possibilities in the treatment of complex irregular target volumes. The collimator consists of 40 wedge-shaped leaves that are independently moved under computer control with their collimating surfaces always aligned with the effective radiation source to minimize the penumbra. The leaf collimator eliminates the need for handling of heavy insert collimators and beam blocks at the same time that it allows dynamic conformation therapy with neutrons.

Beryllium↗

PubMed1980

Investigation of the possibility of using photoneutron beams for radiation therapy.

The possibility has been investigated of using electrons accelerated by a 50 MeV racetrack microtron for generation of photoneutron beams for radiation therapy. Central axis depth-dose curves have been measured in an A-150 tissue-equivalent phantom. Neutron half-value depths between 4.4 and 5.2 g cm-2 were obtained at an SSD of 100 cm for different converter materials and target geometries. At an absorbed dose ratio of 1:1 for neutrons and photons at the dose maximum, the total absorbed dose rates are estimated to be 0.1 Gy min-1 at 100 micronA electron current and a SSD of 100 cm. At a depth of 5 cm the neutron to photon absorbed dose ratio is typically 1:2 and the OER is expected to be about 1.8. Some dose distributional and radiobiological advantages of a physically mixed beam of neutrons and photons for external beam radiation therapy are discussed.

Electrons↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Fluence perturbation in photon beams under nonequilibrium conditions.

The perturbation effect in parallel-plate ionization chambers used for buildup measurements has been investigated. The fluence perturbation due to electrons emitted through the side walls are thoroughly investigated by measurements using film and extrapolation chambers and by calculations. The electron fluence varies both with side wall material and chamber geometry. In order to obtain a small perturbation effect, the chamber should have a large guard width compared to the electrode separation and the side walls should have as large an angle as possible with the central axis. The side wall should be of the same material as the rest of the chamber. The perturbation effect is also dependent on the electron contamination of the beam and angular distribution of the electron fluence. It is thus not possible to correct the perturbation effect in one parallel-plate chamber with fixed plate separation with correction factors obtained with extrapolation chambers of other dimensions. In order to make accurate surface dose measurements extrapolation chambers are therefore strongly recommended in favor of fixed parallel-plate chambers.

Electrons↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A study of interface effects in 60Co beams using a thin-walled parallel plate ionization chamber.

A large plane-parallel ionization chamber has been constructed to investigate interface effects in 60Co beam. The designed geometry yields negligible perturbation from the side walls, as opposed to the large effects existing in commercially available plane-parallel chambers. The chamber has been used to investigate interface phenomena in transition zones using a wide range of elements (Z = 4-82) as front- and back-scattering media and a clinically relevant 60Co gamma-ray field size. The effects of varying the chamber height discretely (0.5-11 mm) and increasing the wall thickness (1-9 mg/cm2) have been investigated. The variation of the measured ionization with the experimental setup (air gap between backscatter material and chamber wall, measurements at dmax and at 5-cm depth, varying the material both in front of and behind the chamber, etc.) has also been investigated. The simple geometry of the ion chamber has been found optimum for benchmark studies of Monte Carlo calculations. The ion chamber is suited for investigating experimentally the effects of varying transport parameters used in Monte Carlo simulations. The results presented show that the complex physical mechanisms governing 60Co interface dosimetry still make Monte Carlo condensed-history (macroscopic) techniques uncertain. It has been found that the EGS4 Monte Carlo system, together with the user code DOSRZ V4.0 and the PRESTA algorithm, yields good agreement with experiments for low and medium Z (main interest in dosimetry and radiotherapy), but may underestimate up to 10% the backscatter from high-Z materials even when transport parameters are optimized.

Algorithms↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Application of the convolution method for calculation of output factors for therapy photon beams.

The output factor for a therapy photon beam is defined as the dose per monitor unit relative to the dose per monitor unit in a reference field. Convolution models for photon dose calculations yield the dose in units normalized to the incident energy fluence with phantom scatter intrinsically modeled. Output factors calculated with the convolution method as the dose per unit energy fluence relative to the calculated dose per unit energy fluence in a reference field could deviate as much as 5% if corrections are not made for perturbations due to treatment head scatter. Significant perturbations are particles backscattered from the collimators to the monitor and photons forward scattered from the filter and collimators in the treatment head. The forward scatter adds an "unmonitored" contribution to the total energy fluence of the beam. A model is developed that describes the field size dependence of these perturbations for conversion of output factors, calculated with the convolution method, to machine output factors as an integrated part in treatment planning. The necessary machine characteristics are derived from measurements of the output in air for a limited set of field sizes. The method has been tested using five different multileaf collimated irregular fields at 6 MV and for a large set of rectangular fields at 5, 6, and 18 MV and found to predict output factors with an accuracy better than 1%.

Humans↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Neutron dosimetry with detectors of finite size. I. Theory.

A theory for detector response in fields of fast neutrons has been developed. The theory is valid for convex detectors of all sizes exposed to isotropic fields of neutrons. In the theory the detector shape is characterized by distributions of chord lengths along which the neutron produced charged particles travel and deposit energy. Chord length distributions for charged particles generated in the surrounding medium (externals) and in the detector itself (internals) are presented for spheres, spheroids, cylinders and parallel plane geometries. The form on which the theory is written makes it possible to evaluate the theory with simplified assumptions, such as characterizing the detector with a single mean chord length for the external particles. Specifically, the response of ionization chambers has been considered, taking into account the energy dependence of the W-values for the different charged particles. In a following article (part II) the theory will be subjected to experimental test.

Models, Theoretical↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Neutron dosimetry with detectors of finite size. II. Experiments and calculations.

In a previous article a theory for detector response in fields of fast neutrons was presented. In the present paper this theory is subjected to experimental tests. For detectors of sizes comparable to the ranges of the neutron produced charged particles the theory predicts the variation of the detector response with detector size and elemental composition of the detector. A tissue-equivalent ionization chamber exposed to a field of 252Cf neutrons was used in the experimental tests of the theory. The size dependence of the response was investigated by varying the chamber gas pressure and the effects of different elemental compositions (mainly hydrogen content) was investigated by using different gases in the chamber (H2, CH4, TE-gas N2, Air, CO2, and Ar). The theory was evaluated both by using chord length distributions to characterize the chamber cavity and with a simplified version using a single mean chord length. The agreement between theory and experiment is generally good.

Models, Biological↗