A simple computational approach to irregular field dosimetry

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiation Oncology
• Radiotherapy Treatment Planning

Background:

• Large and irregular radiation fields are necessary for treating certain malignant tumors.
• Accurate dose computation in these complex fields is challenging and often requires sophisticated computational methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an accessible method for estimating radiation dose in large, irregular fields.
• To provide an algorithm for dose computation using a desk calculator for centers without computer access.

Main Methods:

• An easy method for estimating dose to any point in irregular fields was developed.
• An algorithm suitable for desk calculator use was formulated for dose computation.
• The algorithm's accuracy was validated against the detailed sector integration method of Clarkson.

Main Results:

• The proposed algorithm allows for dose estimation in irregular fields, excluding shielded regions.
• Calculated dose values for mantle and inverted Y-fields showed agreement within +/- 3% compared to Clarkson's method.
• The method is suitable for radiotherapy centers lacking computer facilities.

Conclusions:

• The developed algorithm offers a practical and accurate solution for dose computation in complex radiotherapy fields.
• This method enhances accessibility to precise dose calculations for radiation oncology, particularly in resource-limited settings.
• The findings support the use of this algorithm for reliable treatment planning in radiotherapy.