Monte Carlo dose calculations of beta-emitting sources for intravascular brachytherapy: a comparison between EGS4, EGSnrc, and MCNP. Med Phys 2001 Feb;28(2):134-41
Date
03/13/2001Pubmed ID
11243335DOI
10.1118/1.1339880Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0035117289 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 55 CitationsAbstract
The dose parameters for the beta-particle emitting 90Sr/90Y source for intravascular brachytherapy (IVBT) have been calculated by different investigators. At a distant distance from the source, noticeable differences are seen in these parameters calculated using different Monte Carlo codes. The purpose of this work is to quantify as well as to understand these differences. We have compared a series of calculations using an EGS4, an EGSnrc, and the MCNP Monte Carlo codes. Data calculated and compared include the depth dose curve for a broad parallel beam of electrons, and radial dose distributions for point electron sources (monoenergetic or polyenergetic) and for a real 90Sr/90Y source. For the 90Sr/90Y source, the doses at the reference position (2 mm radial distance) calculated by the three code agree within 2%. However, the differences between the dose calculated by the three codes can be over 20% in the radial distance range interested in IVBT. The difference increases with radial distance from source, and reaches 30% at the tail of dose curve. These differences may be partially attributed to the different multiple scattering theories and Monte Carlo models for electron transport adopted in these three codes. Doses calculated by the EGSnrc code are more accurate than those by the EGS4. The two calculations agree within 5% for radial distance <6 mm.
Author List
Wang R, Li XAMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Beta ParticlesBiophysical Phenomena
Biophysics
Brachytherapy
Coronary Disease
Humans
Monte Carlo Method
Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted
Scattering, Radiation
Strontium Radioisotopes
Yttrium Radioisotopes