Small Field Sizes Research Articles

On the Added Value of Quad-Pol Data in a Multi-Temporal Crop Classification Framework Based on RADARSAT-2 Imagery

Polarimetric SAR images are a rich data source for crop mapping. However, quad-pol sensors have some limitations due to their complexity, increased data rate, and reduced coverage and revisit time. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the added value of quad-pol data in a multi-temporal crop classification framework based on SAR imagery. With this aim, three RADARSAT-2 scenes were acquired between May and June 2010. Once we analyzed the separability and the descriptive analysis of the features, an object-based supervised classification was performed using the Random Forests classification algorithm. Classification results obtained with dual-pol (VV-VH) data as input were compared to those using quad-pol data in different polarization bases (linear H-V, circular, and linear 45°), and also to configurations where several polarimetric features (Pauli and Cloude–Pottier decomposition features and co-pol coherence and phase difference) were added. Dual-pol data obtained satisfactory results, equal to those obtained with quad-pol data (in H-V basis) in terms of overall accuracy (0.79) and Kappa values (0.69). Quad-pol data in circular and linear 45° bases resulted in lower accuracies. The inclusion of polarimetric features, particularly co-pol coherence and phase difference, resulted in enhanced classification accuracies with an overall accuracy of 0.86 and Kappa of 0.79 in the best case, when all the polarimetric features were added. Improvements were also observed in the identification of some particular crops, but major crops like cereals, rapeseed, and sunflower already achieved a satisfactory accuracy with the VV-VH dual-pol configuration and obtained only minor improvements. Therefore, it can be concluded that C-band VV-VH dual-pol data is almost ready to be used operationally for crop mapping as long as at least three acquisitions in dates reflecting key growth stages representing typical phenology differences of the present crops are available. In the near future, issues regarding the classification of crops with small field sizes and heterogeneous cover (i.e., fallow and grasslands) need to be tackled to make this application fully operational.

Monte Carlo study on electron contamination and output factors of small field dosimetry in 6 MV photon beam

The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of electron contamination and Output Factors (OFs) from Varian Trilogy Clinac iX 6 MV photon beam at small field sizes. EGSnrc Monte Carlo (MC) code system was used to model the photon beam for this Linear Accelerator (Linac) head and analyze the electron contamination and OFs from this treatment head. The electron contamination was analyzed for field sizes of 1 × 1, 2 × 2, 3 × 3, 4 × 4, and 5 × 5 cm2. The number of electron contamination increases with increasing field sizes, but the maximum energy of the electron contamination stays constant (at around 1.87 MeV for each field size). The contaminants contribute to the dose at the surface of the water phantom (1–5 cm from the surface) for field size 4 × 4 and 5 × 5 cm2 and this dose decreases with depth. The OFs are simulated by EGSnrc code system and have a good agreement with measurement (deviation 3.45, 1.76, and 0.86 for field of 2, 3 and 4, respectively). This study presented that MC methods have great potential to accurately predict the electron contamination and OFs for 6 MV photon beam.

Multicenter evaluation of a synthetic single-crystal diamond detector for CyberKnife small field size output factors

PurposeThe aim of the present work was to evaluate small field size output factors (OFs) using the latest diamond detector commercially available, PTW-60019 microDiamond, over different CyberKnife systems. OFs were measured also by silicon detectors routinely used by each center, considered as reference. MethodsFive Italian CyberKnife centers performed OFs measurements for field sizes ranging from 5 to 60mm, defined by fixed circular collimators (5 centers) and by Iris™ variable aperture collimator (4 centers). Setup conditions were: 80cm source to detector distance, and 1.5cm depth in water. To speed up measurements two diamond detectors were used and their equivalence was evaluated. MonteCarlo (MC) correction factors for silicon detectors were used for comparing the OF measurements. ResultsConsidering OFs values averaged over all centers, diamond data resulted lower than uncorrected silicon diode ones. The agreement between diamond and MC corrected silicon values was within 0.6% for all fixed circular collimators. Relative differences between microDiamond and MC corrected silicon diodes data for Iris™ collimator were lower than 1.0% for all apertures in the totality of centers. The two microDiamond detectors showed similar characteristics, in agreement with the technical specifications. ConclusionsExcellent agreement between microDiamond and MC corrected silicon diode detectors OFs was obtained for both collimation systems fixed cones and Iris™, demonstrating the microDiamond could be a suitable detector for CyberKnife commissioning and routine checks. These results obtained in five centers suggest that for CyberKnife systems microDiamond can be used without corrections even at the smallest field size.

Determination of boundaries between ranges of high and low gradient of beam profile

AimThis work addresses the problem of treatment planning system commissioning by introducing a new method of determination of boundaries between high and low gradient in beam profile. BackgroundThe commissioning of a treatment planning system is a very important task in the radiation therapy. One of the main goals of this task is to compare two field profiles: measured and calculated. Applying points of 80% and 120% of nominal field size can lead to the incorrect determination of boundaries, especially for small field sizes. Materials and methodsThe method that is based on the beam profile gradient allows for proper assignment of boundaries between high and low gradient regions even for small fields. TRS 430 recommendations for commissioning were used. ResultsThe described method allows a separation between high and low gradient, because it directly uses the value of the gradient of a profile. For small fields, the boundaries determined by the new method allow a commissioning of a treatment planning system according to the TRS 430, while the point of 80% of nominal field size is already in the high gradient region. ConclusionsThe method of determining the boundaries by using the beam profile gradient can be extremely helpful during the commissioning of the treatment planning system for Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy or for other techniques which require very small field sizes.

Monte Carlo calculated correction factors for the PTW microDiamond detector in the Gamma Knife-Model C.

Accurate dose measurements in small fields require correction factors when sufficient CPE is not present inside of the field. These factors adjust for perturbation, volume averaging, and other effects; as such, they are field size, detector, and phantom dependent. In this work, Monte Carlo (MC) methods were used to calculate correction factors for PTW's microDiamond detector in Elekta's Gamma Knife Model-C unit. These correction factors allow for accurate measurement of output factors-even in the smallest field sizes where CPE is not present. The small field correction factors were calculated as kQclin,Qmsr (fclin,fmsr) correction factors according to the Alfonso formalism. The MC model of the Gamma Knife was built with the EGSnrc code system, using BEAMnrc and DOSRZnrc user codes. Efforts were made to validate the MC model against experimental measurements. Using the model, field output factors and measurement ratios for each of the four helmet sizes were simulated for an ABS plastic phantom and validated against film measurements, detector measurements, and treatment planning system (TPS) data. Once validated against the available ABS phantom, the model was applied to a more waterlike solid water phantom. Using MC results from the solid water phantom, the final k correction factors were determined relative to the machine specific reference field-the 18 mm helmet, which is the largest field size available on the unit. When validating against experimental measurements using the ABS phantom, all MC methods agreed with experiment within the stated uncertainties: MC determined field output factors agreed within 0.6% of the TPS and 1.4% of film; and MC simulated measurement ratios matched physically measured ratios within 1% for all helmet sizes. kQclin,Qmsr (fclin,fmsr) for the PTW microDiamond in the solid water phantom approached unity to within 0.4% ± 1.7% for all the helmet sizes except the 4 mm; the 4 mm helmet size over-responded by 3.2% ± 1.7%, resulting in a kQ4mm,Q18mm (f4mm,f18mm) of 0.969. Similar to what has been found in the Gamma Knife Perfexion, the PTW microDiamond over-responds in the smallest 4 mm field. The over-response can be corrected via the Alfonso formalism using the correction factors determined in this work. Using the MC calculated correction factors, the PTW microDiamond detector is an effective dosimeter in all available helmet sizes.

Direct reconstruction of the source intensity distribution of a clinical linear accelerator using a maximum likelihood expectation maximization algorithm

Direct determination of the source intensity distribution of clinical linear accelerators is still a challenging problem for small field beam modeling. Current techniques most often involve special equipment and are difficult to implement in the clinic. In this work we present a maximum-likelihood expectation-maximization (MLEM) approach to the source reconstruction problem utilizing small fields and a simple experimental set-up. The MLEM algorithm iteratively ray-traces photons from the source plane to the exit plane and extracts corrections based on photon fluence profile measurements. The photon fluence profiles were determined by dose profile film measurements in air using a high density thin foil as build-up material and an appropriate point spread function (PSF). The effect of other beam parameters and scatter sources was minimized by using the smallest field size ( cm2). The source occlusion effect was reproduced by estimating the position of the collimating jaws during this process. The method was first benchmarked against simulations for a range of typical accelerator source sizes. The sources were reconstructed with an accuracy better than 0.12 mm in the full width at half maximum (FWHM) to the respective electron sources incident on the target. The estimated jaw positions agreed within 0.2 mm with the expected values. The reconstruction technique was also tested against measurements on a Varian Novalis Tx linear accelerator and compared to a previously commissioned Monte Carlo model. The reconstructed FWHM of the source agreed within 0.03 mm and 0.11 mm to the commissioned electron source in the crossplane and inplane orientations respectively. The impact of the jaw positioning, experimental and PSF uncertainties on the reconstructed source distribution was evaluated with the former presenting the dominant effect.

Evaluation of MRI-based MAGIC polymer gel dosimeter in small photon fields

Background: Accurate small radiation field dosimetry is essential in modern radiotherapy techniques such as stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). Precise measurement of dosimetric parameters such as beam profile, percentage depth doses and output factor of these beams are complicated due to the electron disequilibrium and the steep dose gradients. In the present work the MAGIC polymer gel was used for dosimetry of small circular photon beams. The results of MAGIC were compared with EBT2 measurements and Monte Carlo (MC) calculations. Materials and Methods: Experimental measurements were made by mentioned dosimeters in four small field sizes 5, 10, 20 and 30 mm. The BEAMnrc code based on EGSnrc was used for simulation to calculate dosimetric parameters at these small fields. The phantoms were irradiated in a 6 MV photon beam Varian 2100C linear accelerator at SSD=100 cm. gel readout performed by 3 Tesla MRI scanner. Results: The results showed that the Percent depth dose (PDD) values measured and calculated by EBT2 film and MC had maximum local differences 4% and 5% with PDD values measured by MAGIC for field size of 5mm respectively. These differences decreased for larger field sizes. The measurements of output factor and penumbra (80%-20%) and (90%-10%) showed good agreement between the measurements and MC calculation. Conclusion: This study showed that the MAGIC polymer gel based on high resolution MRI images is useful detector for small field dosimetry but its agreement with MC is less than agreement of EBT2 film with MC.

Small field detector correction factors kQclin,Qmsr (fclin,fmsr) for silicon-diode and diamond detectors with circular 6 MV fields derived using both empirical and numerical methods.

The use of radiotherapy fields smaller than 3 cm in diameter has resulted in the need for accurate detector correction factors for small field dosimetry. However, published factors do not always agree and errors introduced by biased reference detectors, inaccurate Monte Carlo models, or experimental errors can be difficult to distinguish. The aim of this study was to provide a robust set of detector-correction factors for a range of detectors using numerical, empirical, and semiempirical techniques under the same conditions and to examine the consistency of these factors between techniques. Empirical detector correction factors were derived based on small field output factor measurements for circular field sizes from 3.1 to 0.3 cm in diameter performed with a 6 MV beam. A PTW 60019 microDiamond detector was used as the reference dosimeter. Numerical detector correction factors for the same fields were derived based on calculations from a geant4 Monte Carlo model of the detectors and the Linac treatment head. Semiempirical detector correction factors were derived from the empirical output factors and the numerical dose-to-water calculations. The PTW 60019 microDiamond was found to over-respond at small field sizes resulting in a bias in the empirical detector correction factors. The over-response was similar in magnitude to that of the unshielded diode. Good agreement was generally found between semiempirical and numerical detector correction factors except for the PTW 60016 Diode P, where the numerical values showed a greater over-response than the semiempirical values by a factor of 3.7% for a 1.1 cm diameter field and higher for smaller fields. Detector correction factors based solely on empirical measurement or numerical calculation are subject to potential bias. A semiempirical approach, combining both empirical and numerical data, provided the most reliable results.

Assessment of dose error due to nylon mesh of treatment couch

PurposeThis study aims at the assessment of dose error in patients undergoing radiotherapy due to treatment couch of Co-60 teletherapy unit. Materials and methodsIn this study beam attenuation due to treatment couch of Co-60 unit was measured in air for different gantry angles and field sizes. Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) phantom was used to estimate the effect of depth on attenuation. Impact of couch on surface dose was also evaluated. ResultsBeam attenuation due to couch was in the range of 0.5–28% for different gantry angles with standard field size of 10 × 10 cm2 with optimum position of metallic cranks. Maximum attenuation (29%) was observed with smallest field size i.e. 5 × 5 cm2. Beam attenuation has been found higher in phantom as compared to that in air However, no particular trend of attenuation has been noted with varying depth of phantom. A 6% increase in surface dose has also been observed due to couch insertion for normal beam incidence. Maximum error of 80% is also note-worthy for most unfavorable situation of irradiation at 180 degree through the metallic cranks. ConclusionIt has been determined that ignoring the treatment couch and its accessories can result in dose error of 0.5–80%, depending on gantry angle, field size and position of couch accessories. Therefore, consideration of dose error due to couch during treatment planning is recommended.

DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF TRACTOR-MOUNTED FERTILISZRS SPREADER

The lack of efficiency and effectiveness in fertilizer applications in many crops has been continues challenge to sustainable use of inorganic/commercial fertilizers, the right balance in fertilizer application is an important element in nutrition management in Egypt, and promoting efficient and effective use of fertilizer has emerged as an important target of policies and programs in recent decades. However, fertilizers distribution in Egypt is still mostly done manually due to small field sizes, and it is laborious, costly, and the spread pattern is not accurate. So manufacturing such small fertilizer distributor that can be mounted on a tractor or any smaller carriage could provide a simple mechanized solution for fertilizing small fields in Egypt. So, this study is carried out to manufacture and test a tractor-mounted spreader and this could help farmers to increase efficiency and effectiveness in fertilizer use in small scale applications. Fertilizers spreader consisted of; frame, spreading material hopper, agitator, spreading disc with four adjustable blades (fins), and electrical control unit. In stationery mode experiments, Differences of distribution density in both sides of the spreader have been measured under different possible combinations of settings till best results obtained. Many tables have generated to get the recommended setting to deliver specific amount with best uniformity. Also, the spreader has been calibrated to get the repression equations to be the base of using different fertilizers in field based on the recommended tractor forward speeds in field. For spreading Urea in field, placing 1 fin in middle and 3 fins at end right on spreading disc and setting spreading disc speed to 550 rpm is better option to have 5.5 m effective swath length. Where using 250 rpm spreading disc speed is one of settings can achieve the favorable effective swath width of 5.5 m with compound fertilizer. For maximum spreading width, it is recommended to set the spreading disc speed to 700 rpm and 2 disc fins located in center and 2 in their end right for both urea and compound fertilizer. Muriate of Potash fertilizer (MOP) as a fine crystal fertilizer with recommended amount less than 20 kg/feddan in most of fields not easy to be distributed by the spreader under 4 km/h forward speed or less. Average SPAD values (Chlorophyll meter values) showed no significant differences within each subplot and in different locations for all application rates. The maximum difference between average lowest and highest SPAD values for plots that have been spread by the machine was 8 % when the machine was spreading 75 % of recommended rate. Lowest values were 3 and 4% for 50 and 100 % of recommended rates. In manual broadcasting there was difference of 15% between lower and highest value of SPAD in different plot locations.

The broad orientation dependence of the motion streak aftereffect reveals interactions between form and motion neurons.

The extended integration time of visual neurons can lead to the production of the neural equivalent of an orientation cue along the axis of motion in response to fast-moving objects. The dominant model argues that these motion streaks resolve the inherent directional uncertainty arising from the small size of receptive fields in V1, by combining spatial orientation with motion signals in V1. This model was tested in humans using visual aftereffects, in which adapting to a static grating causes the perceived direction of a subsequently presented motion stimulus to be tilted away from the adapting orientation. We found that a much broader range of orientations produced aftereffects than predicted by the current model, suggesting that these orientation cues influence motion perception at a later stage than V1. We also found that varying the spatial frequency of the adaptor changed the aftereffect from repulsive to attractive for motion-test but not form-test stimuli. Finally, manipulations of V1 excitability, using transcranial stimulation, reduced the aftereffect, suggesting that the orientation cue is dependent on V1. These results can be accounted for if the orientation information from the motion streak, gathered in V1, enters the motion system at a later stage of motion processing, most likely V5. A computational model of motion direction is presented incorporating gain modifications of broadly tuned motion-selective neurons by narrowly tuned orientation-selective cells in V1, which successfully accounts for the extant data. These results reinforce the suggestion that orientation places strong constraints on motion processing but in a previously undescribed manner.

The orientation dependence of the motion streak aftereffect reveals interactions between form and motion neurons

The extended integration time of visual neurons leads to fast-moving objects producing the neural equivalent of an orientation cue along the axis of motion. The dominant model [Geisler, W.S. (1999). Motion streaks provide a spatial code for motion direction. Nature, 400(6739), 65–69] proposes that these ‘motion streaks’ resolve the inherent directional uncertainty arising from the small size of receptive fields in V1, by combining spatial orientation with motion signals in V1. This model was tested using visual aftereffects, where adapting to a static grating causes the perceived direction of a subsequently-presented fast motion stimulus to be repelled away from the adapting orientation. Using a similar adaptation method, we measured the angular dependence of this effect and found in each human observer that a much broader range of adapting orientations (mean of 38.82º instead of 21.72°) produced aftereffects than predicted by the current model of motion streaks. This suggests that motion streaks influence motion perception at a later stage than V1. We also found that varying the spatial frequency of the adaptor by approximately two octaves changed the aftereffect from repulsive to attractive for motion, but not form stimuli. Finally, manipulations of V1 excitability, using transcranial direct current stimulation, reduced the aftereffect, suggesting that the orientation cue is dependent upon V1. These results can be accounted for if the orientation information from the motion streak, gathered in V1, enters the motion system at a later stage of motion processing, most likely V5. A new computational model of motion direction is presented incorporating gain modifications of broadly-tuned motion-selective neurons, most likely in V5, by narrowly-tuned orientation-selective cells in V1, which successfully accounts for the data in the current study. These results stress that orientation places strong constraints on motion processing in a different way than the current models predict. Meeting abstract presented at VSS 2015

Grid cells on steeply sloping terrain: evidence for planar rather than volumetric encoding.

Neural encoding of navigable space involves a network of structures centered on the hippocampus, whose neurons –place cells – encode current location. Input to the place cells includes afferents from the entorhinal cortex, which contains grid cells. These are neurons expressing spatially localized activity patches, or firing fields, that are evenly spaced across the floor in a hexagonal close-packed array called a grid. It is thought that grids function to enable the calculation of distances. The question arises as to whether this odometry process operates in three dimensions, and so we queried whether grids permeate three-dimensional (3D) space – that is, form a lattice – or whether they simply follow the environment surface. If grids form a 3D lattice then this lattice would ordinarily be aligned horizontally (to explain the usual hexagonal pattern observed). A tilted floor would transect several layers of this putative lattice, resulting in interruption of the hexagonal pattern. We model this prediction with simulated grid lattices, and show that the firing of a grid cell on a 40°-tilted surface should cover proportionally less of the surface, with smaller field size, fewer fields, and reduced hexagonal symmetry. However, recording of real grid cells as animals foraged on a 40°-tilted surface found that firing of grid cells was almost indistinguishable, in pattern or rate, from that on the horizontal surface, with if anything increased coverage and field number, and preserved field size. It thus appears unlikely that the sloping surface transected a lattice. However, grid cells on the slope displayed slightly degraded firing patterns, with reduced coherence and slightly reduced symmetry. These findings collectively suggest that the grid cell component of the metric representation of space is not fixed in absolute 3D space but is influenced both by the surface the animal is on and by the relationship of this surface to the horizontal, supporting the hypothesis that the neural map of space is “multi-planar” rather than fully volumetric.

SU-D-304-03: Small Field Proton Dosimetry Using MicroDiamond and Gafchromic Film

Purpose: Certain dosimetric characteristics continue to make proton beam therapy an appealing modality for cancer treatment. The proton Bragg peak allows for conformal radiation dose delivery to the target while reducing dose to normal tissue and organs. As field sizes become very small the benefit of the Bragg peak is diminished due to loss of transverse equilibrium along the central beam axis. Furthermore, aperture scattering contributes additional dose along the central axis. These factors warrant the need for accurate small field dosimetry. In this study small field dosimetry was performed using two different methods. Methods: Small field dosimetry measurements were performed using a PTW microdiamond detector and Gafchromic EBT2 film for aperture sizes ranging from 0.5cm to 10cm and a proton range in water of 10cm to 27cm. The measurements were analyzed and then compared to each other and to reference dosimetry data acquired with a Markus chamber. Results: A decrease in normalized output is observed at small field sizes and at larger ranges in water using both measurement methods. Also, a large variation is observed between the output measurements by microdiamond and film at very small field sizes. At the smallest aperture, normalized output ranged from 0.16 to 0.72more » and the percent difference between both measurement methods ranged from 36% to 70% depending on proton range. At field sizes above 5cm the film and microdiamond agree within 3%. Conclusion: Although both measurement methods exhibit a general decrease in output factor at small field sizes, dosimetric measurements for small fields using these two methods can vary significantly. Dosimetry under standard conditions is not sufficient to correctly model the dose distributions and outputs factors for small field sizes, additional small field measurements should be performed.« less

SU‐E‐T‐146: Beam Energy Spread Estimate Based On Bragg Peak Measurement

Purpose:ProNova is installing and commissioning a two room proton therapy system in Knoxville, TN. Beam energy out of the 230MeV cyclotron was measured on Jan 24, 2015. Cyclotron beam was delivered into a Zebra multi layered IC detector calibrated in terms of penetration range in water. The analysis of the measured Bragg peak determines penetration range in water which can be subsequently converted into proton beam energy. We extended this analysis to obtain an estimate of the beam energy spread out of the cyclotron.Methods:Using Monte Carlo simulations we established the correlation between Bragg peak shape parameters (width at 50% and 80% dose levels, distal falloff) and penetration range for a monoenergetic proton beam. For large uniform field impinging on a small area detector, we observed linear dependence of each Bragg peak parameter on beam penetration range as shown in Figure A. Then we studied how this correlation changes when the shape of Bragg peak is distorted by the beam focusing conditions. As shown in Figure B, small field size or diverging beam cause Bragg peak deformation predominantly in the proximal region. The distal shape of the renormalized Bragg peaks stays nearly constant. This excludes usage of Bragg peak width parameters for energy spread estimates.Results:The measured Bragg peaks had an average distal falloff of 4.86mm, which corresponds to an effective range of 35.5cm for a monoenergetic beam. The 32.7cm measured penetration range is 2.8cm less. Passage of a 230MeV proton beam through a 2.8cm thick slab of water results in a ±0.56MeV energy spread. As a final check, we confirmed agreement between shapes of the measured Bragg peak and one generated by Monte‐Carlo code for proton beam with 0.56 MeV energy spread.Conclusion:Proton beam energy spread can be estimated using Bragg peak analysis.

SU‐E‐T‐738: The Limit of Detectability and Resolution of a Cylindrical Diode Array Phantom for VMAT and SRS Quality Assurance

Purpose:To determine the limit of detectability and resolution of a cylindrical QA phantom for quality assurance of VMAT and SRS procedures in small field sizes.Methods:Eight different square field sizes were delivered onto a cylindrical QA phantom with 1386 diodes at gantry angles of 0, 90, 180 and 270 degrees, using a 6 MV beam at a maximum dose rate of 600 MU/min on a dedicated stereotactic linear accelerator with 2.5mm and 5mm leaves. After verifying pass rates of normal square field sizes, errors were introduced into the quality‐assurance analysis, including an expansion of the field size by 1 mm for all jaws on all sides, an expansion of the field size by 1 mm on one side of the X and Y jaws,MLC errors, and a table shift by 1 mm vertically and longitudinally at 270 and 90 degrees and a table shift of 1mm laterally and longitudinally for angles of 0 and 180 degrees. Treatment planning system calculated dose distributions for measured square field size dose data was imported into the QA phantom software and compared against a treatment planning system calculated 3D dose distribution. Percent pass rates were computed using gamma analysis with 2mm/2% analysis criteria with a background threshold value of 30%.Results:QA software comparison between measured fields and treatment planning system calculations indicate that the passing rate of square fields decreases significantly when errors are induced in the quality assurance analysis. Adding two opposing MLC leaves on opposing sides of each square field in the treatment planning system produced a 31.2% average difference from normally measured square field sizes compared between the treatment planning system and what was measured by the QA software.Conclusion:This work indicates the potential for detecting errors in VMAT quality assurance in small field sizes using a cylindrical QA phantom.

SU‐E‐T‐185: Clinically‐Relevant Investigation of Flattening Filter Free Skin Dose

Purpose:Flattening‐filter‐free (FFF) beams are increasingly used for small‐field treatments due to inherent advantages like higher MU efficiency and reduced treatment time and scatter dose. Removal of the flattening‐filter increases the electron contamination and low‐energy x‐rays. As such, surface‐dose characteristics are different from traditional flattened (FF) beams. The goal of this work is to investigate surface dose of 6/10 MV FFF and FF beams under conditions representative of emerging complex techniques like small‐field stereotactic treatments which use small fields formed with multi‐leaf‐collimators (MLCs) at closer SSDs.Methods:A parallel‐plate PTW Markus‐chamber (N23343) placed in custom air‐ and water‐equivalent phantoms was used to measure surface‐dose at 2/3/4/6/8/10/20/30 cm2 field sizes, at 80/90/100 cm source‐to‐surface distances, and at fields defined by jaws and MLCs. The effect of dose rate (600 and 1400/2400 MU/min) was also investigated at 100 cm SSD. Measurements were performed on TrueBeam linac (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA) for 6X/6XFFF/10X/10XFFF beam energies.Results:No dose‐rate dependence was seen for FFF skin‐dose. Air‐phantom measurements were, on average, 5±3% larger than for water‐phantom measurements. With SSD increase from 80 to 100 cm, skin‐dose decreased by an average of 3.9±2.5%. FFF beams were found to be more sensitive to SSD changes in comparison to FF beams. The difference in skin dose between MLC‐ and jaw‐fields was less variable with field size for FFF compared to FF beams. 10 MV beams showed greater difference in FFF‐to‐FF ratio, 50% (jaws) and 22% (MLC), between the largest and smallest field sizes compared to 6 MV beams, 30% (jaws) and 9% (MLC).Conclusion:Under clinically‐relevant conditions, surface dose for FFF beams was higher at small field size (<10 cm), lower at largest field size (30 cm), more sensitive to SSD changes, and had less variation with field size compared to dose for FF beams.

SU‐E‐T‐495: Influence of Reduced Target‐To‐Nozzle Distance On Secondary Neutron Dose Equivalent in Proton and Carbon Ion Radiotherapy

Purpose:Ion beams have an unavoidable lateral spread due to nuclear interactions interacting with the air and monitoring systems. To minimize this spread, the distance between the nozzle and the patient should be kept as small as possible.The purpose of this work was to determine the impact of the target‐to‐nozzle distance reduction on the secondary neutron dose equivalent in proton and carbon ion radiotherapy.Methods:In this study, abdominal and head phantoms were scanned with our CT scanner. Cubical targets with side lengths of 3 cm to 10 cm and 1 cm to 5 cm were drawn in the abdominal and head phantoms respectively. Two intensity‐modulated plans were made for each phantom and ion. The first of these plans placed the target at the isocenter while the other shifted the phantom 30 cm towards the nozzle. The plans at both phantom locations were optimized to provide identical dose coverage to the PTVs.Secondary neutron dose equivalent at 50 cm lateral to the center of target.Results:The neutron dose equivalent was higher for the larger field size from 0.25µSv per Gy (RBE) to 72µSv per Gy (RBE). The neutron dose equivalent was smaller when the phantom was placed at the upstream target location versus at the isocenter location by 8.9% to 10.4% and 11.0% to 22.1% for proton plans of the abdominal and head phantoms respectively. Differences for carbon plans with different target‐to‐nozzle locations were less than 3% for both phantoms.Conclusion:A reduction of target‐to‐nozzle distance can lead to benefits for proton radiotherapy. In this study, a reduction of secondary neutron dose equivalent was found for proton plans with a smaller target‐to‐nozzle distance. A greater impact was found for a head phantom with a smaller field size; however, a reduction of the target‐to‐nozzle distance had little effect for carbon therapy.

SU‐E‐T‐220: Computational Accuracy of Adaptive Convolution (AC) and Collapsed Cone Convolution (CCC) Algorithms in the Presence of Air Gaps

Purpose:To compare the percentage depth dose (PDD) computational accuracy of Adaptive Convolution (AC) and Collapsed Cone Convolution (CCC) algorithms in the presence of air gaps.Methods:A 30×30×30 cm3 solid water phantom with two 5cm air gaps was scanned with a CT simulator unit and exported into the Phillips Pinnacle™ treatment planning system. PDDs were computed using the AC and CCC algorithms. Photon energy of 6 MV was used with field sizes of 3×3 cm2, 5×5 cm2, 10×10 cm2, 15×15 cm2, and 20×20 cm2. Ionization chamber readings were taken at different depths in water for all the field sizes. The percentage differences in the PDDs were computed with normalization to the depth of maximum dose (dmax). The calculated PDDs were then compared with measured PDDs.Results:In the first buildup region, both algorithms overpredicted the dose for all field sizes and under‐predicted for all other subsequent buildup regions. After dmax in the three water media, AC under‐predicted the dose for field sizes 3×3 and 5×5 cm2 and overpredicted for larger field sizes, whereas CCC under‐predicted for all field sizes. Upon traversing the first air gap, AC showed maximum differences of –3.9%, −1.4%, 2.0%, 2.5%, 2.9% and CCC had maximum differences of −3.9%, −3.0%,–3.1%, −2.7%, −1.8% for field sizes 3×3, 5×5, 10×10, 15×15, and 20×20 cm2 respectively.Conclusion:The effect of air gaps causes a significant difference in the PDDs computed by both the AC and CCC algorithms in secondary build‐up regions. AC computed larger values for the PDDs except at smaller field sizes. For CCC, the size of the errors in prediction of the PDDs has an inverse relationship with respect to field size. These effects should be considered in treatment planning where significant air gaps are encountered.

SU-E-T-263: Development of Dose Monitor Unit Calculation Using Clarkson Integration for Proton Beam Therapy Using Beam-Wobbling System

Purpose: The purpose of the present study is to develop a calculation method of dose-calibration-factor using Clarkson integration for proton therapy employing the wobbling system and to evaluate accuracy of the calculation by comparison between calculations and measurements. Methods: CF and CALF stand for a dose-calibration-factor and a dose per monitor unit (MU), respectively. A measured dose-calibration-factor CFmeas is defined as a ratio of the measured dose per monitor unit in a patient-specific condition CALFpat to the measured dose per MU in a reference beam condition CALFref. The CFcalc is a product of three factors: CF1, CF2 and CF3. The CF1 and CF2 are a factor reflecting the effect of common beam delivery devices and that of patient specific devices and parameter (an aperture collimator, a range compensator and an air gap), respectively. The CF1 was obtained by interpolation using measured data. The CF2 was calculated using the Simplified Monte Carlo (SMC) method. The SMC method calculates a dose distribution by tracing individual protons and by using a measured Bragg curve in water. The CF3 representing the correction factor of field size effect was obtained by using the Clarkson integration. We compared the calculated and measured CF values for 20 prostate cases. Results: Field size correction was found to be important. The calculations reproduce the measurement results within an error of ±2.0%, except for a few cases. The error was about –3.1% for the small field area of less than19 square centimeters. Conclusion: We have developed a calculation method of dose-calibration-factor. Calculations agreed with measurements within ±2.0% for 90% of 20 prostate cases. Except for a small field size cases, the calculation method can be applied to determine the dose-calibration–factor for majority cases of prostate cancer.