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GAF film dosimetry of a tandem positioned beta-emitting intravascular brachytherapy source train.

Coronary artery brachytherapy may require treatment of lesions longer than a single source length. A treatment option is tandem positioning of the single source. This study presents relative dosimetric measurements of a cardiovascular brachytherapy source and the dosimetric characteristics in the junction region of tandem treatments. Measurements were carried out using a Novoste Beta Cath 90Sr/90Y 40 mm beta source in a plastic water phantom. Radiochromic MD-55-2 film, calibrated using both 6 MV photon and 6 MeV electron beams from a linear accelerator, was used as the dosimeter. Dose distributions around a single source and in the junction region of tandem irradiation were measured. Measurements of the near field dose as close as 1.2 mm from the source are presented. Significant over- or underdoses in the junction region of tandem irradiation were quantified. At a radial distance of 2 mm from the longitudinal axis of the source, the dose value in the middle of the junction region, normalized to the dose at 2 mm midline single source, was about 182% for a 2-seed overlap and 16% for a 2-seed gap, respectively. Dose distributions in the junction region as a function of source overlap and radial distance have fairly high gradients and exhibit characteristic patterns. The fraction of prescription dose was found to have a sigmoidal dependence on overlap size, for radial distances ranging between 1.2 and 3 mm. The parameters of these sigmoids, quantified as functions of radial distance, could be used to provide quick and reasonable over/underdose estimates, given any potential overlap or gap in the junction area, with an uncertainty within 10%.

Beta Particles↗

Dose distributions in bifurcated coronary vessels treated with catheter-based photon and beta emitters in intravascular brachytherapy.

The dose distributions in the bifurcated vessels treated with intravascular brachytherapyline sources are complicated and depend on the bifurcation geometry consisting of a main and a branch vessel at different angles. To investigate the dosimetric effects at the bifurcation, calculations were performed on branching vessels of various bifurcation angles ranging from 20 degrees to 90 degrees. Two catheter based delivery systems were considered in the calculations using a 40 mm long radioactive sources of 192Ir or 90Sr/Y. It was assumed that the bifurcated vessel was treated in twoseparate source insertions, once for the main vessel and later for the branch vessel. Calculations were performed for different values of source gap from 0 to 9 mm, at the junction of main and branch vessels. Our results indicate that main vessel always receives a higher dose (up to 200%) when the branch vessel is also treated. Hot spots at portions of the main vessel near the junction cannot be totally avoided without severely underdosing the branch vessel. For bifurcation angle greater than 45 degrees, a 4 mm source gap can almost ensure that overdosing of the main vessel does not exceed 60% and underdosing of the branch vessel does not exceed 10% for 192Ir. However, for 90Sr/Y, the same is not possible unless the bifurcation angle is larger than 70 degrees. Dose heterogeneity using 90Sr/Y is more sensitive to the value of source gap than 192Ir because 90Sr/Y source provides a sharper dose-fall-off than 192Ir. For both photon and beta emitters, there is no acceptable solution for bifurcation angles less than 30 degrees, where the activity of the line source has a uniform distributions. Appropriate choice of gap at the junction can only help to reduce either overdosing of the main vessel or underdosing of the branch vessel, but not both.

Beta Particles↗

Re-evaluation of the dose to the cyst wall in P-32 radiocolloid treatments of cystic brain tumors using the dose-point-kernel and Monte Carlo methods.

Intracavity instillation of beta-emitting colloid pharmaceuticals is a common technique used to treat cystic brain tumors. Most of the dosimetric calculations that have been reported in the literature for this problem are based on empirical formulas derived by Loevinger. Concentration of P-32 radiolabeled solution for the delivery of a prescribed dose (200 Gy to the cyst wall) has been published previously using this formalism in what we refer to as a standard nomogram. The calculations using the Loevinger formulas for calculating the P-32 activity necessary to achieve 200 Gy at the cyst wall is re-evaluated and compared to numerically computed results based on full Monte Carlo simulations (EGSnrc) and the dose-point-kernel (DPK) integration method. For cyst diameters greater than 1 cm, the new calculations agree well with previously published results (the standard nomogram) to within a few percents. However, for cyst diameters of less than 1 cm, it is shown that the standard nomogram results underestimate the therapeutic activity by a factor of approximately 3 for very small diameters (approximately 0.2 cm). New tables based on our calculations are presented and the sources of discrepancies are identified. It is concluded that the new set of data based on our calculations should replace the standard nomogram to administer accurately the target dose to the cyst wall for the smaller diameter cysts (< 1 cm).

Beta Particles↗

Dosimetry for radiocolloid therapy of cystic craniopharyngiomas.

The dosimetry for radiocolloid therapy of cystic craniopharyngiomas is investigated. Analytical calculations based on the Loevinger and the Berger formulas for electrons and photons, respectively, are compared with Monte Carlo simulations. The role of the material of which the colloid introduced inside the craniopharyngioma is made of as well as that forming the cyst wall is analyzed. It is found that the analytical approaches provide a very good description of the simulated data in the conditions where they can be applied (i.e., in the case of a uniform and infinite homogeneous medium). However, the consideration of the different materials and interfaces produces a strong reduction of the dose delivered to the cyst wall in relation to that predicted by the Loevinger and the Berger formulas.

Beta Particles↗

Calibration of a scintillation dosemeter for beta rays using an extrapolation ionization chamber.

A scintillation dosemeter is calibrated for 90Sr/90Y beta rays from an ophthalmic applicator, using an extrapolation ionization chamber as a reference instrument. The calibration factor for the scintillation dosemeter agrees with that given by the manufacturer of the dosemeter within ca. 2%. The estimated overall uncertainty of the present calibration is ca. 6% (2 sd). A calibrated beta-ray ophthalmic applicator can be used as a reference source for further calibrations performed in the laboratory or in the hospital.

Beta Particles↗

Monte Carlo calculation of the sensitivity of a commercial dose calibrator to gamma and beta radiation.

The detection process used in a commercial dose calibrator was modeled using the GEANT 3 Monte Carlo code. Dose calibrator efficiency for gamma and beta emitters, and the response to monoenergetic photons and electrons was calculated. The model shows that beta emitters below 2.5 MeV deposit energy indirectly in the detector through bremsstrahlung produced in the chamber wall or in the source itself. Higher energy beta emitters (E > 2.5 MeV) deposit energy directly in the chamber sensitive volume, and dose calibrator sensitivity increases abruptly for these radionuclides. The Monte Carlo calculations were compared with gamma and beta emitter measurements. The calculations show that the variation in dose calibrator efficiency with measuring conditions (source volume, container diameter, container wall thickness and material, position of the source within the calibrator) is relatively small and can be considered insignificant for routine measurement applications. However, dose calibrator efficiency depends strongly on the inner-wall thickness of the detector.

Beta Particles↗

Optimization of dose distributions for bifurcated coronary vessels treated with catheter-based photon and beta emitters using the simulated annealing algorithm.

The dose distributions in the bifurcated vessels treated with a catheter-based delivery system are complicated by the geometry of bifurcation consisting of a main and a branch vessel at different angles, and it is difficult to generate satisfactory dose distributions. We hypothesize that increasing the number of dwell positions can result in better dose distributions. An optimization method based on the simulated annealing was developed to demonstrate the validity of this idea. In this method, the source in the branch treatment was allowed to take up to five dwell positions. A cost function was constructed to deliver the prescription dose to the planning targets with penalties for both overdosing and underdosing. By using the optimization algorithm, it was found that for 90 degrees to 60 degrees bifurcated vessels an optimized single dwell position treatment scheme can be as effective as the schemes that include up to five dwell positions. As the bifurcation angle becomes smaller than 60 degrees, the dose distributions generated with the single dwell position scheme become less satisfactory than the more complicated treatment schemes with multiple dwell positions. By using a three-dwell-position treatment scheme for the 192Ir source, the overdosing can be kept under 166% even at a bifurcation angle of 20 degrees.

Algorithms↗

Viewing angle performance of medical liquid crystal displays.

Cathode-ray tube (CRT) and liquid crystal display (LCD) are currently two main technologies for displaying medical images. LCDs possess a number of advantages, but their performance varies as a function of viewing angle. Our purpose in this study was to characterize the angular response performance of five medical-grade LCDs, and to substantiate their impact on their compliance with the DICOM gray scale display function (GSDF). Furthermore, the study aimed to test a framework to define an angular acceptance range for medical LCDs based on the recent AAPM TG18 guidelines. Measurements were made on five calibrated dual-domain LCDs, including two 3 megapixel monochrome LCDs, two 5 megapixel monochrome LCDs, and one 9 megapixel color LCD. The luminance performance of each display device was measured as a function of the viewing angle at 17 discrete levels using TG18-LN test patterns and a Fourier-optics-based luminance meter. The luminance data were analyzed according to the AAPM TG18 methodology. The displays showed notable variation in luminance and contrast performance as a function of the viewing angle, particularly in diagonal viewing orientations. Overall, the luminance ratio remained greater than 175 within +/-20 degrees and +/-33 degrees viewing angle cones (beta175 = 20 degrees-33 degrees). Aiming to maintain a maximum deviation from the GSDF contrast less than 0.3, i.e., kappa17 < or = 0.3, acceptable viewing angle cones of +/-22 degrees and +/-35 degrees were indicated (alpha 0.3= 22 degrees-35 degrees). The findings demonstrate the significant impact of angular response on image contrast, and the utility of alpha 0.3 and beta175 quantities for defining the viewing angle cones within which a medical LCD device can be effectively utilized.

Beta Particles↗

Monte Carlo dose voxel kernel calculations of beta-emitting and Auger-emitting radionuclides for internal dosimetry: A comparison between EGSnrcMP and EGS4.

Dose-point kernels (DPKs) can be widely applied to therapeutic nuclear medicine to obtain more accurate absorbed dose assessments in internal dosimetry assuming a spherical geometry. Recently, EGSnrc-the latest in the family of EGS Monte Carlo codes--has been tested for isotropic monoenergetic electrons and Y-90 beta spectrum in spherical geometry. The availability of SPECT images allows one to take into account heterogeneities in activity distribution within tumors, and to perform dose calculations using voxel dosimetry based on Monte Carlo simulations in a Cartesian geometry. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the differences of dose distributions scored in Cartesian voxels also known as Dose Voxel Kernels (DVKs) for five beta-emitting (131I, 89Sr, 153Sm, 186Re, and 90Y) and Auger-emitting (111In) radionuclides, when their computation is made using these two Monte Carlo codes from the same family to check if the new physics in EGSnrc simulation system produces DVK very different from those calculated with EGS4. We have calculated the DVKs for point and voxel sources in Cartesian scoring grids of different spatial resolutions. Our results for the point source, scored in the finer spatial resolution, show a poor agreement between EGSnrc and EGS4 (up to about 20%) for voxels closer to the origin, and a better agreement (below 5%) for longer distances for all radionuclides. For the voxel source, where doses were scored in the coarser spatial resolution, dose deposition in the central voxel is in good agreement for all the radionuclides; while surrounding voxels exhibit a slightly worse agreement.

Algorithms↗

Calculation of radiation doses for nonuniformity distributed beta and gamma radionuclides in soft tissue.

In cancer radioimmunotherapy nonuniform distributions of radionuclides in geometrically irregular tumor volumes will be encountered. If the tumor is surrounded by a homogeneous layer of soft tissue, the radiation dose distribution in the tumor due to a beta-emitting nuclide can be calculated by convolution of the appropriate Loevinger's point source dose function, J, with the nuclide concentration distribution. Computer programs using fast Fourier transform techniques have been developed to evaluate the three-dimensional spatial convolution accurately and efficiently. Equivalent techniques have also been applied to gamma-emitting nuclides by replacing J in the convolution by the photon point isotropic specific absorbed fraction. Illustrative results are presented for the radiation dose distribution in a 1-ml target volume with activity distribution which is (i) uniform, (ii) limited by diffusion into the target volume, or (iii) limited by diffusion and shedding of radionuclide in the peripheral layers of the target volume. Calculations for the three cases are presented for 32P, 131I, and 15-, 30-, and 100-keV photon emitters.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

The development of high-efficiency cathode converters for a multiwire proportional chamber positron camera.

A high-efficiency cathode converter for 511-keV photons has been developed for incorporation into a multiwire proportional chamber (MWPC) positron camera. The converter consists of a honeycomb pattern produced in a 1-mm-thick lead sheet to leave lead walls with a thickness of approximately 60 micron. The converter also serves as the cathode of an MWPC, the gap between the converter and the anode wire plane being 2.5 mm. This small gap results in a high secondary electron extraction efficiency without the need for additional drift voltages. Measurements of the efficiencies of a plane converter and of two types of structured converters in a single section MWPC are described and the efficiency is found to increase in proportion to the converter surface area. This result justifies the use of a simple theoretical model whereby an extrapolation to the efficiency of a detector consisting of a stack of 20 MWPC sections, each section having two converters, is made. The efficiency of this proposed system is calculated to be 17% for 511-keV photons.

Beta Particles↗

Radiation absorbed dose to bladder walls from positron emitters in the bladder content.

A method to calculate absorbed doses at depths in the walls of a static spherical bladder from a positron emitter in the bladder content has been developed. The beta ray dose component is calculated for a spherical model by employing the solutions to the integration of Loevinger and Bochkarev point source functions over line segments and a line segment source array technique. The gamma ray dose is determined using the specific gamma ray constant. As an example, absorbed radiation doses to the bladder walls from F-18 in the bladder content are presented for static spherical bladder models having radii of 2.0 and 3.5 cm, respectively. Experiments with ultra-thin thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD's) were performed to verify the results of the calculations. Good agreement between TLD measurements and calculations was obtained.

Beta Particles↗

Dose distributions in regions containing beta sources: large spherical source regions in a homogeneous medium.

The energy averaged Boltzmann equation model is applied to the determination of dose distributions in infinite, homogeneous media with uniform, monoenergetic, isotropic source distributions in spherical regions of radius larger than the electron range. The generalization to the case of spherically symmetric source distributions is made. Comparisons with dose distributions calculated by the integration of dose point kernels derived from Monte Carlo calculations are presented.

Beta Particles↗

Dose distributions in regions containing beta sources: uniform spherical source regions in homogeneous media.

The energy-averaged transport model for the calculation of dose rate distributions is applied to uniform, spherical source distributions in homogeneous media for radii smaller than the electron range. The model agrees well with Monte Carlo based calculations for source distributions with radii greater than half the continuous slowing down approximation range. The dose rate distributions can be written in the medical internal radiation dose (MIRD) formalism.

Beta Particles↗