Clinical implementation of the Peregrine Monte Carlo dose calculations system for211 photon beam therapy

摘要

PEREGRINE is a 3D Monte Carlo dose calculation system designed to serve as a dose211u001ecalculation engine for clinical radiation therapy treatment planning systems. 211u001eTaking advantage of recent advances in low-cost computer hardware, modern 211u001emultiprocessor architectures and optimized Monte Carlo transport algorithms, 211u001ePEREGRINE performs mm-resolution Monte Carlo calculations in times that are 211u001ereasonable for clinical use. PEREGRINE has been developed to simulate radiation 211u001etherapy for several source types, including photons, electrons, neutrons and 211u001eprotons, for both teletherapy and brachytherapy. However the work described in 211u001ethis paper is limited to linear accelerator-based megavoltage photon therapy. 211u001eHere we assess the accuracy, reliability, and added value of 3D Monte Carlo 211u001etransport for photon therapy treatment planning. Comparisons with clinical 211u001emeasurements in homogeneous and heterogeneous phantoms demonstrate PEREGRINE's 211u001eaccuracy. Studies with variable tissue composition demonstrate the importance of 211u001ematerial assignment on the overall dose distribution. Detailed analysis of Monte 211u001eCarlo results provides new information for radiation research by expanding the 211u001eset of observables.