Separating output factor into collimator factor and phantom scatter factor for megavoltage photon calculations

Abstract

Output factor has been used in megavoltage dosage calculations because collimator factor and backscatter factor are considered individually indeterminable. Output factor reflects the normalized product of backscatter factor and collimator factor for the most common treatment geometry. A method has been found for independently measuring collimator factors for megavoltage photons. Using a build-up cap of high density tissue equivalent material, we have measured the relative collimator factors for various units with photon energies up to 15 MV. Utilizing measured values for output factor and collimator factor relative backscatter factors have been determined.