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BEST IN PHYSICS (THERAPY): Magnetic-Field-Induced Dose Effects in a Mouse Lung Phantom: Monte Carlo and Experimental Assessments


A Rubinstein

A Rubinstein*, R Tailor, A Melancon, J Pollard, M Guindani, D Followill, J Hazle, L Court, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Presentations

TH-CD-BRA-1 (Thursday, August 4, 2016) 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Room: Ballroom A


Purpose:To simulate and measure magnetic-field-induced radiation dose effects in a mouse lung phantom. This data will be used to support pre-clinical experiments related to MRI-guided radiation therapy systems.

Methods:A mouse lung phantom was constructed out of 1.5x1.5x2.0-cm³ lung-equivalent material (0.3 g/cm³) surrounded by a 0.6-cm solid water shell. EBT3 film was inserted into the phantom and the phantom was placed between the poles of an H-frame electromagnet. The phantom was irradiated with a cobalt-60 beam (1.25 MeV) with the electromagnet set to various magnetic field strengths (0T, 0.35T, 0.9T, and 1.5T). These magnetic field strengths correspond to the range of field strengths seen in MRI-guided radiation therapy systems. Dose increases at the solid-water-to-lung-interface and dose decreases at the lung-to-solid-water interface were compared with results of Monte Carlo simulations performed with MCNP6.

Results:The measured dose to lung at the solid-water-to-lung interface increased by 0%, 16%, and 29% with application of the 0.35T, 0.9T, and 1.5T magnetic fields, respectively. The dose to lung at the lung-to-solid-water interface decreased by 4%, 18%, and 24% with application of the 0.35T, 0.9T, and 1.5T magnetic fields, respectively. Monte Carlo simulations showed dose increases of 0%, 16%, and 31% and dose decreases of 4%, 16%, and 25%.

Conclusion:Only small dose perturbations were observed at the lung-solid-water interfaces for the 0.35T case, while more substantial dose perturbations were observed for the 0.9T and 1.5T cases. There is good agreement between the Monte Carlo calculations and the experimental measurements (within 2%). These measurements will aid in designing pre-clinical studies which investigate the potential biological effects of radiation therapy in the presence of a strong magnetic field.

Funding Support, Disclosures, and Conflict of Interest: This work was partially funded by Elekta.


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