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Updated: Mar 21, 2026
09:37
Extracting Metrics for Three-dimensional Root Systems: Volume and Surface Analysis from In-soil X-ray Computed Tomography Data
Published on: April 26, 2016
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Impact of Voxel Grid Size and Statistical Uncertainty on Surface Depth Dose Via Various Planning Techniques and
Srinivas Challapalli1, Anupam Choudhary2, Jyothi Nagesh3
1Department of Radiation Oncology, Kasturba Medical College Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka India.
Technology in Cancer Research & Treatment
|March 20, 2026
Summary
This study found that increasing statistical uncertainty and grid size in radiotherapy planning reduces calculation time. Higher grid size and uncertainty decrease surface dose, with IMRT showing higher skin doses than VMAT.
Area of Science:
- Medical Physics
- Radiation Oncology
- Computational Imaging
Background:
- Accurate dose calculation is crucial in radiotherapy planning.
- Understanding surface dose variations is important for patient safety and treatment efficacy.
- Monte Carlo (MC) algorithms offer high accuracy but can be computationally intensive.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the impact of dose-voxel size (DVS) and statistical uncertainty (SU) on surface dose at depth (1-5mm).
- To compare these effects across different radiotherapy planning techniques (IMRT, VMAT) and immobilization devices.
- To evaluate the influence of these parameters on dose calculation time.
Main Methods:
- Utilized CT images from a chest phantom with varying immobilization (open, vaclok, thermoplastic mask).
- Planned Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) and Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) using a Monaco planning station.
- Recalculated plans by systematically varying grid size (1-8 mm) and SU (1-5%), performing 240 plans total.
Main Results:
- Increased grid size and SU reduced dose calculation time across all techniques and devices.
- Surface dose at depth (1-5mm) decreased with larger grid sizes and increased with lower SU.
- IMRT consistently resulted in higher skin doses than VMAT; vac-lock immobilization yielded the highest surface dose.
Conclusions:
- Higher SU and grid size significantly decrease dose calculation time.
- Surface dose is inversely related to grid size and directly related to SU.
- Treatment planning parameters, beam selection, and immobilization devices significantly influence surface dose.
Keywords:
dose voxel sizeintensity modulated radiation therapymonte carlostatistical uncertaintyvolumetric arc therapy (VMAT)More Related Videos
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