A revised dosimetric characterization of 60Co BEBIG source: From single-source data to clinical dose distribution

Abstract

PurposeAlthough the dosimetric characterization of 60Co BEBIG source can be found in several literature studies, the data sets show major discrepancies and the lack of uncertainty analyses. This study tried to determine an accurate dosimetric data set for this source using Monte Carlo (MC) simulations along with detailed uncertainty analysis. To explore how different dosimetric data sets can make changes in practical situations, clinical dose distributions based on our results were compared with the dose distributions derived from Granero et al. and consensus data sets. Methods and MaterialsThe MC simulations were performed with Monte Carlo N-Particle eXtended code (MCNPX) version 2.6.0 and the TG-43 parameters were estimated adhering to the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) and European SocieTy for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) 229 report. The dose rate distributions for single-source and two typical clinical cases, including one intracavitary and one interstitial, were calculated using an in-house code on the basis of the TG-43 formalism. ResultsThe total uncertainties for water dose rate on source transverse axis at 1 cm and 5 cm, air kerma strength, and dose rate constant were evaluated to be 0.10%, 0.09%, 0.04%, and 0.11%, respectively. Meaningful differences were found for the interstitial case in which 22% of clinical target volume (CTV) showed differences from ±1% to ±10% or even larger. ConclusionsThe MC uncertainty was derived about 16 times smaller than the typical MC component stated in TG-138, partly because of large number of histories and partly because the spectra of 60Co and also its photons' attenuation coefficients are adequately accurate. The results showed that in the clinical situations, the applicator geometry and the superposition of single-source dose distributions can reduce the differences observed between several data sets.