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Dose Measurement and Calculation of Asymmetric X-Ray Fields from Therapeutic LINAC

Research Authors
Ahmed L. El-Attar, Mostafa E. Abdel-Wanees, and Mostafa A. Hashem
Research Year
2011
Research Journal
Arab Journal of Nuclear Sciences and Applications
Research Publisher
NULL
Research Vol
44
Research Rank
4
Research_Pages
367-374
Research Website
NULL
Research Abstract

Linear accelerators with x-ray collimators that move independently are becoming increasingly common for treatment with asymmetric fields. In this paper we present a simplified approach to the calculation of dose for asymmetric fields. A method is described for calculating the beam profiles, depth doses and output factors for asymmetric fields of radiation produced by linear accelerators (siemens mevatron M2) with independent jaws. Values are calculated from data measured for symmetric fields. Symmetric field data are modified using opened off-axis factors (OAFs) and primary off-centre ratios (POCRs) which are obtained from in air measurements of the largest possible opened field. Beam hardening occurring within the flattening filter is taken into account using of attenuation coefficients for opened field and used to generate the opened POCR at different depths. A full investigation to compare measured and calculated profiles demonstrates favorable agreement