Monte Carlo (PENELOPE®) simulations for a photon radiotherapy incident beam spectrum for in-phantom dose determination

FRANCESCA GALLIVANONE GRAZIA GAMBARINI MAURO VALENTE ELENA VANOSSI

Bologna, Italia

Congreso; SIRR (Società Italiana per le Ricerche sulla Radiazione); 2006

Ferrous sulphate (Fricke) radiochromic gel dosimeters infused with Xylenol-Orange constitute a well known technique for dose distribution measurements [1]. However, it is necessary to ensure the tissue-equivalence of the employed dosimetric sensible material in order to allow reliable dose distribution determinations. Experimental measurements may be necessary to test the gel dosimeter tissue-equivalence, but sometimes it is not easy to carry out accurate dosimetric experiments. However, Monte Carlo (MC) simulations consist sometimes an easier way for achieving a good approach to the actual problem. A MC (PENELOPE) [2] code has been employed in order to check the tissue-equivalence of a ferrous sulphate gel dosimeter. Simulations have included several quantities of interest, like depth dose distributions, transmission of electrons and photons, as well as backscattering properties. The results obtained by means of the here employed MC code may be consider as a first approach to the good tissue-equivalence of the employed gel dosimeter material.