Monte Carlo simulations for EndoBronchial Photodynamic Therapy: the influence of variations in optical and geometrical properties and of realistic and eccentric light sources

Abstract

Background and objective: Light dosimetry for endobronchial photodynamic therapy is not very advanced to date. This study investigates the dependency of the fluence rate distribution in the bronchial wall on several parameters.

Study design/materials and methods: A Monte Carlo model is employed for the illumination of a cylindrical cavity by a linear diffuser to compute the fluence rate distribution in the tissue. The influence of optical and geometrical properties (e.g., the absorption coefficient of the bronchial mucosa and the diameter of the treated lumen) have been investigated, as well as the consequences of varying output characteristics of the diffusers. The optical properties used are those of ex vivo pig bronchial mucosa.

Results: With on-axis linear diffusers that can be modelled as a row of isotropic point sources, a constant fluence rate buildup factor can be employed for varying diffuser lengths and lumen diameters. Extreme off-axis placement of the diffuser causes a highly variable, considerable increase in the maximum fluence rate as well as a highly asymmetrical fluence rate profile on the circumference of the illuminated lumen. The fluence rate profiles resulting from illumination with realistic diffusers can be evaluated by implementing the measured radiance profiles of these diffusers in the model. The changes in fluence rate caused by variations in the optical properties of the bronchial mucosa could be accounted for by diffusion theory. This relationship can be used to extrapolate the ex vivo results to the clinical situation.

Conclusion: A set of practical rules of thumb is presented that can help to estimate fluence rate distributions in clinical practice.