18 research outputs found
A GPU implementation of a track-repeating algorithm for proton radiotherapy dose calculations
An essential component in proton radiotherapy is the algorithm to calculate
the radiation dose to be delivered to the patient. The most common dose
algorithms are fast but they are approximate analytical approaches. However
their level of accuracy is not always satisfactory, especially for
heterogeneous anatomic areas, like the thorax. Monte Carlo techniques provide
superior accuracy, however, they often require large computation resources,
which render them impractical for routine clinical use. Track-repeating
algorithms, for example the Fast Dose Calculator, have shown promise for
achieving the accuracy of Monte Carlo simulations for proton radiotherapy dose
calculations in a fraction of the computation time. We report on the
implementation of the Fast Dose Calculator for proton radiotherapy on a card
equipped with graphics processor units (GPU) rather than a central processing
unit architecture. This implementation reproduces the full Monte Carlo and
CPU-based track-repeating dose calculations within 2%, while achieving a
statistical uncertainty of 2% in less than one minute utilizing one single GPU
card, which should allow real-time accurate dose calculations
Theoretical methods for the calculation of Bragg curves and 3D distributions of proton beams
The well-known Bragg-Kleeman rule RCSDA = A dot E0p has become a pioneer work
in radiation physics of charged particles and is still a useful tool to
estimate the range RCSDA of approximately monoenergetic protons with initial
energy E0 in a homogeneous medium. The rule is based on the
continuous-slowing-down-approximation (CSDA). It results from a generalized
(nonrelativistic) Langevin equation and a modification of the phenomenological
friction term. The complete integration of this equation provides information
about the residual energy E(z) and dE(z)/dz at each position z (0 <= z <=
RCSDA). A relativistic extension of the generalized Langevin equation yields
the formula RCSDA = A dot (E0 +E02/2M dot c2)p. The initial energy of
therapeutic protons satisfies E0 << 2M dot c2 (M dot c2 = 938.276 MeV), which
enables us to consider the relativistic contributions as correction terms.
Besides this phenomenological starting-point, a complete integration of the
Bethe-Bloch equation (BBE) is developed, which also provides the determination
of RCSDA, E(z) and dE(z)/dz and uses only those parameters given by the BBE
itself (i.e., without further empirical parameters like modification of
friction). The results obtained in the context of the aforementioned methods
are compared with Monte-Carlo calculations (GEANT4); this Monte-Carlo code is
also used with regard to further topics such as lateral scatter, nuclear
interactions, and buildup effects. In the framework of the CSDA, the energy
transfer from protons to environmental atomic electrons does not account for
local fluctuations.Comment: 97 pages review pape
Intensity-modulated radiotherapy of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a comparative treatment planning study of photons and protons
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aim of this treatment planning study was to investigate the potential advantages of intensity-modulated (IM) proton therapy (IMPT) compared with IM photon therapy (IMRT) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Eight NPC patients were chosen. The dose prescriptions in cobalt Gray equivalent (Gy<sub>E</sub>) for gross tumor volumes of the primary tumor (GTV-T), planning target volumes of GTV-T and metastatic (PTV-TN) and elective (PTV-N) lymph node stations were 72.6 Gy<sub>E</sub>, 66 Gy<sub>E</sub>, and 52.8 Gy<sub>E</sub>, respectively. For each patient, nine coplanar fields IMRT with step-and-shoot technique and 3D spot-scanned three coplanar fields IMPT plans were prepared. Both modalities were planned in 33 fractions to be delivered with a simultaneous integrated boost technique. All plans were prepared and optimized by using the research version of the inverse treatment planning system KonRad (DKFZ, Heidelberg).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Both treatment techniques were equal in terms of averaged mean dose to target volumes. IMPT plans significantly improved the tumor coverage and conformation (<it>P </it>< 0.05) and they reduced the averaged mean dose to several organs at risk (OARs) by a factor of 2–3. The low-to-medium dose volumes (0.33–13.2 Gy<sub>E</sub>) were more than doubled by IMRT plans.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In radiotherapy of NPC patients, three-field IMPT has greater potential than nine-field IMRT with respect to tumor coverage and reduction of the integral dose to OARs and non-specific normal tissues. The practicality of IMPT in NPC deserves further exploration when this technique becomes available on wider clinical scale.</p
Factors influencing the performance of patient specific quality assurance for pencil beam scanning IMPT fields.
PURPOSE
A detailed analysis of 2728 intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) fields that were clinically delivered to patients between 2007 and 2013 at Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) was performed. The aim of this study was to analyze the results of patient specific dosimetric verifications and to assess possible correlation between the quality assurance (QA) results and specific field metrics.
METHODS
Dosimetric verifications were performed for every IMPT field prior to patient treatment. For every field, a steering file was generated containing all the treatment unit information necessary for treatment delivery: beam energy, beam angle, dose, size of air gap, nuclear interaction (NI) correction factor, number of range shifter plates, number of Bragg peaks (BPs) with their position and weight. This information was extracted and correlated to the results of dosimetric verification of each field which was a measurement of two orthogonal profiles using an orthogonal ionization chamber array in a movable water column.
RESULTS
The data analysis has shown more than 94% of all verified plans were within defined clinical tolerances. The differences between measured and calculated dose depend critically on the number of BPs, total thickness of all range shifter plates inserted in the beam path, and maximal range. An increase of the dose difference was observed with smaller number of BPs (i.e., smaller tumor) and smaller ranges (i.e., superficial tumors). The results of the verification do not depend, however, on the prescribed dose, NI correction, or the size of the air gap. There is no dependency of the transversal and longitudinal spot position precision on the beam angle. The value of NI correction depends on the number of spots and number of range shifter plates.
CONCLUSIONS
The presented study has shown that the verification method used at Centre for Proton Therapy at Paul Scherrer Institute is accurate and reproducible for performing patient specific QA. The results confirmed that the dose discrepancy is dependent on the size and location of the tumor