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. 2017 Jan;18(1):196-201.
doi: 10.1002/acm2.12039.

Room scatter effects in Total Skin Electron Irradiation: Monte Carlo simulation study

Alexander Nevelsky  1 , Egor Borzov  1 , Shahar Daniel  1 , Raquel Bar-Deroma  1
Affiliations

Room scatter effects in Total Skin Electron Irradiation: Monte Carlo simulation study

Alexander Nevelsky et al. J Appl Clin Med Phys. 2017 Jan.

Abstract

Purpose: Total Skin Electron Irradiation (TSEI) is a complex technique which usually involves the use of large electron fields and the dual-field approach. In this situation, many electrons scattered from the treatment room floor are produced. However, no investigations of the effect of scattered electrons in TSEI treatments have been reported. The purpose of this work was to study the contribution of floor scattered electrons to skin dose during TSEI treatment using Monte Carlo (MC) simulations.

Methods: All MC simulations were performed with the EGSnrc code. Influence of beam energy, dual-field angle, and floor material on the contribution of floor scatter was investigated. Spectrum of the scattered electrons was calculated. Measurements of dose profile were performed in order to verify MC calculations.

Results: Floor scatter dependency on the floor material was observed (at 20 cm from the floor, scatter contribution was about 21%, 18%, 15%, and 12% for iron, concrete, PVC, and water, respectively). Although total dose profiles exhibited slight variation as functions of beam energy and dual-field angle, no dependence of the floor scatter contribution on the beam energy or dual-field angle was found. The spectrum of the scattered electrons was almost uniform between a few hundred KeV to 4 MeV, and then decreased linearly to 6 MeV.

Conclusions: For the TSEI technique, dose contribution due to the electrons scattered from the room floor may be clinically significant and should be taken into account during design and commissioning phases. MC calculations can be used for this task.

Keywords: Monte Carlo simulation; Total Skin Electron Irradiation; dosimetry.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic representation of the simulation geometry and dose normalization point. The star symbol (normalization point) represents the same point in both pictures.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Calculated total dose, direct dose and floor contribution profiles (energy 6 MeV, gantry angle 17°, concrete as a floor material).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Beam energy dependence. Floor scatter calculated for 6 MeV and 8 MeV beams is shown.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Gantry dual‐angle dependence. Floor scatter calculated for gantry angles of 16°, 17°, and 18° is shown.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Floor material dependence. Floor scatter calculated for four different floor materials (iron, concrete, PVC, water) is shown.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Spectrum of all electrons in the phantom, direct electrons, and electrons scattered from the floor.
Figure 7
Figure 7
The results of dose verification measurements for the total dose performed for the 6 MeV and 8 MeV beams.
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