TU‐A‐350‐02: Monte Carlo Dose Calculation for Clinical IMRT Treatment Planning

Abstract

Monte Carlo (MC) dose calculation algorithms are now available in some commercial treatment planning systems for applications in photon beam IMRT planning. This course will examine the various stages of a MC IMRT dose calculation, including methods for particle sourcing, fluence modulation, and patient dose computation dose. The use MC as a QA tool to validate commercial IMRT dose calculation algorithms and its use as a QA tool to validate 3D dose distributions for individual IMRT plans will be reviewed. To this end, large‐scale comparison of clinical IMRT plans created with a commercial planning system with MC dose re‐calculation will be presented. Advantages of using MC algorithms directly in the IMRT optimization loop to circumvent optimization convergence errors and strategies to reduce MC dose calculation time when used within an optimization framework will be discussed.Educational Objectives:1. To understand the stages of a Monte Carlo dose calculation when applied to clinical IMRT treatment planning.2. To illustrate the role of Monte Carlo for IMRT treatment planning quality assurance.3. To evaluate the dose accuracy of a commercial non‐Monte Carlo IMRT dose calculation algorithms with respect to Monte Carlo dose computations.4. To demonstrate methods for Monte Carlo‐based clinical IMRT dose optimization.The author is supported in part by NCI Grant P01 CA116602, by Philips Medical Systems and by Varian Medical Systems.