Validation of the EGS usercode DOSE3D for internal beta dose calculation at the cellular and tissue levels

Internal radiotherapy is currently focusing on beta emitters such as 90Y or 131I because of their high-energy emissions. However, conventional dosimetric methods (MIRD) are known to be limited for such applications. They are unable to take into account microscopic radionuclide distribution because standardized anthropomorphic phantoms are used, and absorbed dose is calculated at the organ level. New tools are therefore required for dose assessment at cellular and tissue level (10-100 microm). The purpose of this study was to validate, at this scale, a Monte Carlo usercode (DOSE3D), based on the MORSE combinatorial geometry package and the EGS code system. Dose point-kernel calculations in water were compared to those published by Cross et al and Simpkin and Mackie. They confirm that DOSE3D is a reliable tool for cellular dosimetry in various geometric configurations.