Program Information
Directional Low-Dose Rate Brachytherapy: Determination of the TG-43 Dose-Rate Constant Analog for a New Pd-103 Source
M Aima*, W Culberson , C Hammer , J Micka , L DeWerd , Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
Presentations
SU-G-201-6 (Sunday, July 31, 2016) 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Room: 201
Purpose:
The aim of this work is to determine the TG-43 dose-rate constant analog for a new directional low-dose rate brachytherapy source based on experimental methods and comparison to Monte Carlo simulations. The CivaSheet™ is a new commercially available planar source array comprised of a variable number of discrete directional source elements called “CivaDots”. Given the directional nature and non-conventional design of the source, modifications to the AAPM TG-43 protocol for dosimetry are required. As a result, various parameters of the TG-43 dosimetric formalism have to be adapted to accommodate this source. This work focuses on the dose-rate constant analog determination for a CivaDot.
Methods:
Dose to water measurements of the CivaDot were performed in a polymethyl methacrylate phantom (20x20x12 cm³) using thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) and Gafchromic EBT3 film. The source was placed in the center of the phantom, and nine TLD micro-cubes were irradiated along its central axis at a distance of 1 cm. For the film measurements, the TLDs were substituted by a (3x3) cm² EBT3 film. Primary air-kerma strength measurements of the source were performed using a variable-aperture free-air chamber. Finally, the source was modeled using the Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport Code 6.
Results:
Dose-rate constant analog observed for a total of eight CivaDots using TLDs and five CivaDots using EBT3 film was within ±7.0% and ±2.9% of the Monte Carlo predicted value respectively. The average difference observed was -4.8% and -0.1% with a standard deviation of 1.7% and 2.1% for the TLD and the film measurements respectively, which are both within the comparison uncertainty.
Conclusion:
A preliminary investigation to determine the dose-rate constant analog for a CivaDot was conducted successfully with good agreement between experimental and Monte Carlo based methods. This work will aid in the eventual realization of a clinically-viable dosimetric framework for the CivaSheet.
Funding Support, Disclosures, and Conflict of Interest: This work was partially supported by NCI contract (HHSN261201200052C) through CivaTech Oncology Inc.
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