Monte Carlo methods for device simulations in radiation therapy

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiotherapy
• Computational Science

Background:

• Monte Carlo (MC) simulations are vital for assessing physical properties in radiotherapy that are challenging to measure directly.
• These simulations are instrumental in the design and property analysis of radiotherapy devices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive review of the Monte Carlo method for simulating devices used in radiation therapy.
• To cover the history, popular codes, and diverse applications of MC simulations in medical physics.

Main Methods:

• Review of Monte Carlo simulation techniques applied to radiotherapy.
• Analysis of MC modeling for treatment heads (neutral and charged particle therapy) and in-room devices (imaging and therapy).

Main Results:

• MC simulations are extensively used to model complex physical interactions in radiotherapy devices.
• Applications span from fundamental research to practical device design and optimization.

Conclusions:

• Monte Carlo simulations have significantly impacted radiotherapy device design and analysis.
• MC methods are expected to play an increasingly important role in the future of radiation therapy device development.