Comparison of the Dose Calculation Accuracy between the Commercial Pencil Beam Algorithm and Various Statistical Uncertainties with Monte Carlo Algorithm in New Proton Pencil Beam Scanning System

Yuki Tominaga; Masataka Oita; Takashi Akagi; Junya Miyata; Shuichi Harada; Tetsunori Matsuda; Masahiro Kuroda

doi:10.51083/radiatenvironmed.12.1_53

Regular Article

Comparison of the Dose Calculation Accuracy between the Commercial Pencil Beam Algorithm and Various Statistical Uncertainties with Monte Carlo Algorithm in New Proton Pencil Beam Scanning System

Yuki Tominaga, Masataka Oita, Takashi Akagi, Junya Miyata, Shuichi Harada, Tetsunori Matsuda, Masahiro Kuroda

Author information

Yuki Tominaga
Department of Radiotherapy, Medical Co. Hakuhokai, Osaka Proton Therapy Clinic, 27-9 Kasugadenaka, Konohana-ku, Osaka, Osaka 550-0022, Japan
Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, 5-1 Shikata-cho, 2-chome, Kita-ku, Okayama, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
Masataka Oita
Faculty of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, 3-1 Tsushimanaka, 3-chome, Kita-ku, Okayama, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
Takashi Akagi
Hyogo Ion Beam Medical Support, 2-1, 1-chome, Kohto, Shingu, Tatsuno, Hyogo 679-5165, Japan
Junya Miyata
Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, 5-1 Shikata-cho, 2-chome, Kita-ku, Okayama, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
Department of Radiological Technology, Kurashiki Central Hospital, 1-1-1, Miwa, Kurashiki, Okayama 710-8602, Japan
Shuichi Harada
Hyogo Ion Beam Medical Support, 2-1, 1-chome, Kohto, Shingu, Tatsuno, Hyogo 679-5165, Japan
Tetsunori Matsuda
Department of Radiological Technology, Tsuyama Chuo Hospital, 1756, Kawasaki, Tsuyama, Okayama 708-0841, Japan
Masahiro Kuroda
Graduate School of Health Sciences, Okayama University, 5-1 Shikata-cho, 2-chome, Kita-ku, Okayama, Okayama 700-8558, Japan

Keywords: p roton beam therapy, pencil beam scanning, commissioning, Monte Carlo, pencil beam algorithm

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2023 Volume 12 Issue 1 Pages 53-64

DOI https://doi.org/10.51083/radiatenvironmed.12.1_53

Details

Abstract

We validated the calculation accuracies and times between the pencil beam algorithm (PBA) and the Monte Carlo (MC) algorithm in the new proton pencil beam scanning system. Thirty-three (homogeneous phantom) and three (heterogeneous phantom) uniform-dose plans were verified for cubic targets. These plans were calculated using the PBA and five MC statistical uncertainties of 0.3%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2.0%. We also evaluated the required dose calculation times per beam with the statistical analysis. Then, eight clinically realistic beams were validated as the end-toend test. The dose differences of 0.3% and 0.5% uncertainty MC plans were satisfied our tolerance (< ±3.0%). All five uncertainty MC plans improved at least the average/minimum gamma score from 93.8%/33.5% to 98.5%/88.9% for homogeneous (2%/2 mm) and 96.7%/83.9% to 98.8%/94.1% for heterogeneous (3%/3 mm) than PBA plans. However, the average calculation times of 0.3% and 0.5% uncertainties in MC plans were 15.5 and 5.8 times longer than in PBA plans (p < 0.001). The endto-end tests satisfied the acceptable with a statistical uncertainty of MC below 0.5%. Although the dose calculation times would be significantly increased, we suggest that the statistical uncertainty of MC below 0.5% is appropriate for clinical use with PBS plans.

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