Monte Carlo calculations of the ionization chamber wall correction factors for 192Ir and 60Co gamma rays and 250 kV x-rays for use in calibration of 192Ir HDR brachytherapy sources

Abstract

As in the method for the calibration of 192Ir high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy sources, the ionization chamber wall correction factor Aw is needed for 192Ir and 60Co gamma rays and 250 kV x-rays. This factor takes into account the variation in chamber response due to the attenuation of the photon beam in the chamber wall and build-up cap and the contribution of scattered photons. Monte Carlo calculations were performed using the EGS4 code system with the PRESTA algorithm, to calculate the Aw factor for 51 commercial ionization chambers and build-up caps exposed to the typical energy spectrum of 192Ir and 60Co gamma rays and 250 kV x-rays. The calculated Aw correction factors for 192Ir and 60Co sources and 250 kV x-rays agree very well to within 0.1% with published experimental data (the statistical uncertainty is less than 0.1% of the calculated correction factor value). For the 192Ir sources, Aw varies from 0.973 to 0.993 and for the 250 kV x-rays the minimum value of Aw for all chambers studied is 0.983. The calculated Aw correction factors can be used to calculate the air kerma calibration factor of HDR brachytherapy sources, when interpolative methods are considered, contributing to the reduction in the overall uncertainties in the calibration procedure.