Practical experience with initial quality assurance of a high dose rate brachytherapy grid-based Boltzmann solver...

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiation Oncology
• Brachytherapy

Background:

• Traditional TG-43 protocols have limitations in complex dose calculations.
• Model-based dose calculation algorithms (MBDCAs) offer potential improvements.
• Validation is crucial before clinical implementation of new algorithms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate the Acuros BV MBDCA for high dose rate brachytherapy treatment planning.
• To provide a practical approach for community clinics to validate MBDCAs.
• To facilitate the integration of Acuros BV into a TG-43 based planning system.

Main Methods:

• Compared Acuros BV and TG-43 source models against physical sources.
• Performed TG-186 testing using Monte Carlo and Acuros BV calculations.
• Evaluated point doses and dose distributions in water and on CT datasets.

Main Results:

• Source model discrepancies were mainly due to modeled steel cable length.
• TG-186 testing showed dose distribution differences in high gradient regions and along the source axis.
• Acuros BV performed satisfactorily, with a 5% threshold adopted for secondary dose checks.

Conclusions:

• The Acuros BV MBDCA met expected standards for brachytherapy treatment planning.
• Validation confirmed Acuros BV's suitability for integration into clinical practice.
• This study offers a practical framework for MBDCA validation in community settings.