Consistency in quality correction factors for ionization chamber dosimetry in scanned proton beam therapy.

Purpose: The IAEA TRS-398 code of practice details the reference conditions for reference dosimetry of proton beams using ionization chambers and the required beam quality correction factors (k ). Pencil beam scanning (PBS) systems cannot approximate reference conditions using a single spot. However, dose distributions requested in TRS-398 can be reproduced with PBS using a combination of spots.

Experimental assessment of proton dose calculation accuracy in inhomogeneous media.

Purpose: Proton therapy with Pencil Beam Scanning (PBS) has the potential to improve radiotherapy treatments. Unfortunately, its promises are jeopardized by the sensitivity of the dose distributions to uncertainties, including dose calculation accuracy in inhomogeneous media. Monte Carlo dose engines (MC) are expected to handle heterogeneities better than analytical algorithms like the pencil-beam convolution algorithm (PBA).

A Fano cavity test for Monte Carlo proton transport algorithms.

Purpose: In the scope of reference dosimetry of radiotherapy beams, Monte Carlo (MC) simulations are widely used to compute ionization chamber dose response accurately. Uncertainties related to the transport algorithm can be verified performing self-consistency tests, i.e.

Extension of PENELOPE to protons: simulation of nuclear reactions and benchmark with Geant4.

Purpose: Describing the implementation of nuclear reactions in the extension of the Monte Carlo code (MC) PENELOPE to protons (PENH) and benchmarking with Geant4.

Methods: PENH is based on mixed-simulation mechanics for both elastic and inelastic electromagnetic collisions (EM). The adopted differential cross sections for EM elastic collisions are calculated using the eikonal approximation with the Dirac-Hartree-Fock-Slater atomic potential.

Evaluation of Gafchromic® EBT3 films characteristics in therapy photon, electron and proton beams.

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 delivered by pencil-beam scanning, a 60 MeV fixed proton beam and an Elekta SL25 6 MeV electron beam.