Dose distribution in water for monoenergetic photon point sources in the energy range of interest in brachytherapy: Monte Carlo simulations with PENELOPE and GEANT4

摘要

Monte Carlo calculations using the codes PENELOPE and GEANT4 have beenperformed to characterize the dosimetric properties of monoenergetic photonpoint sources in water. The dose rate in water has been calculated for energiesof interest in brachytherapy, ranging between 10 keV and 2 MeV. A comparison ofthe results obtained using the two codes with the available data calculatedwith other Monte Carlo codes is carried out. A chi2-like statistical test isproposed for these comparisons. PENELOPE and GEANT4 show a reasonable agreementfor all energies analyzed and distances to the source larger than 1 cm.Significant differences are found at distances from the source up to 1 cm. Asimilar situation occurs between PENELOPE and EGS4.