published_or_final_version / abstract / Medicine / Master / Doctor of Medicine

A utilização da técnica braquiterapia com sementes de iodo-125 para o tratamento do câncer de próstata têm sido utilizada por décadas com bons resultados clínicos. Para atender as necessidades da população brasileira, o IPEN-CNEN/SP desenvolveu o protótipo para as sementes de iodo-125 com tecnologia nacional. Os objetivos deste trabalho são o desenvolvimento e estudo dos processos dosimétricos associados à obtenção experimental dos parâmetros úteis à caracterização das sementes de iodo-125 e avaliar se os procedimentos desenvolvidos, por este trabalho, possuem as condições necessárias para a determinação das análises dosimétricas, fundamentais para o sucesso dos procedimentos clínicos. Os dosímetros escolhidos para as análises são os TLD-100 (LiF:Mg,Ti), inicialmente estes dosímetros foram submetidos por duas etapas de seleção, com o objetivo de escolher os dosímetros mais reprodutíveis para as análises dosimétricas. As duas etapas foram à seleção por medidas de massa e a reprodutibilidade após quatro séries de irradiações por um irradiador de Cobalto-60 (CTR-IPEN). Após estas etapas, os dosímetros foram irradiados em um acelerador linear com energia de 6 MV (Serviço de Radioterapia Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein) para gerar os fatores de calibração individuais para cada dosímetro. Posteriormente, os dosímetros foram utilizados para as irradiações com a semente de iodo-125, modelo 6711 (GE-Healthcare). As irradiações com a semente de iodo-125 e demais análises renderam os valores necessários para a determinação dos parâmetros sugeridos pela AAPM (American Association of Physicists in Medicine): constante de taxa de dose, função de geometria, função de dose radial e função de anisotropia. Os resultados obtidos mostram boa concordância com os valores publicados pela literatura, para o mesmo modelo de semente de iodo-125, ratificando que os parâmetros realizados poderão ser utilizados para a dosimetria e controle de qualidade das sementes de iodo- 125 que irão ser produzidas pelo IPEN-CNEN/SP. / The use of brachytherapy technique with iodine-125 seeds to prostate cancer treatment has been used for decades with good clinical outcomes. To aim the Brazilian population necessities, IPEN-CNEN/SP developed the iodine-125 seed prototype with national technology. The objectives of this work are the development and the study of dosimetric procedures associates with the experimental acquisition of the useful parameters for the iodine-125 dosimetric characterization and to evaluate if the developed procedures, in this work, have the basic conditions to determinate the dosimetric analysis, that are fundamental for clinical procedures. The dosimeters selected for the analysis are the TLD-100 (LiF:Mg,Ti), initially these dosimeters were submitted for two selection steps to choose the dosimeters more reproducible for the dosimetric analysis. The two steps were the selection by the mass of the dosimeters and the reproducibility after four irradiation series in a Cobalt-60 irradiator (CTR-IPEN). Afterwards these steps, the dosimeters were irradiated in linear accelerator with 6 MV energy (Service of Radiotherapy Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein) to yield the individual calibration factors to each dosimeter. After, the dosimeters were used to the irradiations with iodine-125 seed, 6711 model, (GE-Healthcare). The irradiations and others analysis with iodine-125 seeds yield the useful values for the determination of the parameters suggested by the AAPM (American Association of Physicists in Medicine): constant of dose rate, geometry function, dose radial function and anisotropy function. The results showed good agreement with the values published by the literature, for the same iodine- 125 model, this fact confirms that the realized parameters will be able to be used for the IPEN-CNEN iodine-125 seeds dosimetry and quality control.

Intracavitary high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDRBT) is a treatment option for endometrial cancer, depending on the cancer stage. Because of the steep high dose gradient of HDRBT, very small differences in the treatment plans, surrounding organ’s anatomy, or procedures during the treatment could potentially cause significant dose variation to the tumor, as well as organs at risks (OAR) nearby the treatment area, which could result in unwanted radiobiological side effects. In this retrospective study, the radiobiological plan evaluation parameters Equivalent Uniform Dose (EUD), Normal Tissue Complication Probability (NTCP) are used as assessment tools to evaluate HDRBT plans. Furthermore, gynecological applicator position in the coordinate system, and possible dose variations to the tumor and critical organs from the initial fraction in comparison with subsequent fractions over the entire multi fractionated treatment are studied. The evaluations were performed for 118 HDR treatment plans for 30 patients by registration of the subsequent treatment plans into the initial CT-image guided plan. Dose fractionation regimens varied from 4Gy to 7Gy per fraction, 1 or 2 fractions per week, depending on the cancer stage. Our results demonstrate no significant radiobiological impacts on organs at risks (OAR). In addition, the results of the applicator positions’ study indicate that improvement of immobilization and localization devices are recommended. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

A utilização da técnica braquiterapia com sementes de iodo-125 para o tratamento do câncer de próstata têm sido utilizada por décadas com bons resultados clínicos. Para atender as necessidades da população brasileira, o IPEN-CNEN/SP desenvolveu o protótipo para as sementes de iodo-125 com tecnologia nacional. Os objetivos deste trabalho são o desenvolvimento e estudo dos processos dosimétricos associados à obtenção experimental dos parâmetros úteis à caracterização das sementes de iodo-125 e avaliar se os procedimentos desenvolvidos, por este trabalho, possuem as condições necessárias para a determinação das análises dosimétricas, fundamentais para o sucesso dos procedimentos clínicos. Os dosímetros escolhidos para as análises são os TLD-100 (LiF:Mg,Ti), inicialmente estes dosímetros foram submetidos por duas etapas de seleção, com o objetivo de escolher os dosímetros mais reprodutíveis para as análises dosimétricas. As duas etapas foram à seleção por medidas de massa e a reprodutibilidade após quatro séries de irradiações por um irradiador de Cobalto-60 (CTR-IPEN). Após estas etapas, os dosímetros foram irradiados em um acelerador linear com energia de 6 MV (Serviço de Radioterapia Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein) para gerar os fatores de calibração individuais para cada dosímetro. Posteriormente, os dosímetros foram utilizados para as irradiações com a semente de iodo-125, modelo 6711 (GE-Healthcare). As irradiações com a semente de iodo-125 e demais análises renderam os valores necessários para a determinação dos parâmetros sugeridos pela AAPM (American Association of Physicists in Medicine): constante de taxa de dose, função de geometria, função de dose radial e função de anisotropia. Os resultados obtidos mostram boa concordância com os valores publicados pela literatura, para o mesmo modelo de semente de iodo-125, ratificando que os parâmetros realizados poderão ser utilizados para a dosimetria e controle de qualidade das sementes de iodo- 125 que irão ser produzidas pelo IPEN-CNEN/SP. / The use of brachytherapy technique with iodine-125 seeds to prostate cancer treatment has been used for decades with good clinical outcomes. To aim the Brazilian population necessities, IPEN-CNEN/SP developed the iodine-125 seed prototype with national technology. The objectives of this work are the development and the study of dosimetric procedures associates with the experimental acquisition of the useful parameters for the iodine-125 dosimetric characterization and to evaluate if the developed procedures, in this work, have the basic conditions to determinate the dosimetric analysis, that are fundamental for clinical procedures. The dosimeters selected for the analysis are the TLD-100 (LiF:Mg,Ti), initially these dosimeters were submitted for two selection steps to choose the dosimeters more reproducible for the dosimetric analysis. The two steps were the selection by the mass of the dosimeters and the reproducibility after four irradiation series in a Cobalt-60 irradiator (CTR-IPEN). Afterwards these steps, the dosimeters were irradiated in linear accelerator with 6 MV energy (Service of Radiotherapy Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein) to yield the individual calibration factors to each dosimeter. After, the dosimeters were used to the irradiations with iodine-125 seed, 6711 model, (GE-Healthcare). The irradiations and others analysis with iodine-125 seeds yield the useful values for the determination of the parameters suggested by the AAPM (American Association of Physicists in Medicine): constant of dose rate, geometry function, dose radial function and anisotropy function. The results showed good agreement with the values published by the literature, for the same iodine- 125 model, this fact confirms that the realized parameters will be able to be used for the IPEN-CNEN iodine-125 seeds dosimetry and quality control.

A beta-emitting glass seed was proposed for the brachytherapy treatment of prostate cancer. Criteria for seed design were derived and several beta-emitting nuclides were examined for suitability. 142Pr was selected as the isotope of choice. Seeds 0.08 cm in diameter and 0.9 cm long were manufactured for testing. The seeds were activated in the Texas A&M University research reactor. The activity produced was as expected when considering the meta-stable state and epi-thermal neutron flux. The MCNP5 Monte Carlo code was used to calculate the quantitative dosimetric parameters suggested in the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) TG-43/60. The Monte Carlo calculation results were compared with those from a dose point kernel code. The dose profiles agree well with each other. The gamma dose of 142Pr was evaluated. The gamma dose is 0.3 Gy at 1.0 cm with initial activity of 5.95 mCi and is insignificant to other organs. Measurements were performed to assess the 2-dimensional axial dose distributions using Gafchromic radiochromic film. The radiochromic film was calibrated using an X-ray machine calibrated against a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) traceable ion chamber. A calibration curve was derived using a least squares fit of a second order polynomial. The measured dose distribution agrees well with results from the Monte Carlo simulation. The dose was 130.8 Gy at 6 mm from the seed center with initial activity of 5.95 mCi. AAPM TG-43/60 parameters were determined. The reference dose rate for 2 mm and 6 mm were 0.67 and 0.02 cGy/s/mCi, respectively. The geometry function, radial dose function and anisotropy function were generated.

A beta-emitting glass seed was proposed for the brachytherapy treatment of prostate cancer. Criteria for seed design were derived and several beta-emitting nuclides were examined for suitability. 142Pr was selected as the isotope of choice. Seeds 0.08 cm in diameter and 0.9 cm long were manufactured for testing. The seeds were activated in the Texas A&M University research reactor. The activity produced was as expected when considering the meta-stable state and epi-thermal neutron flux. The MCNP5 Monte Carlo code was used to calculate the quantitative dosimetric parameters suggested in the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) TG-43/60. The Monte Carlo calculation results were compared with those from a dose point kernel code. The dose profiles agree well with each other. The gamma dose of 142Pr was evaluated. The gamma dose is 0.3 Gy at 1.0 cm with initial activity of 5.95 mCi and is insignificant to other organs. Measurements were performed to assess the 2-dimensional axial dose distributions using Gafchromic radiochromic film. The radiochromic film was calibrated using an X-ray machine calibrated against a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) traceable ion chamber. A calibration curve was derived using a least squares fit of a second order polynomial. The measured dose distribution agrees well with results from the Monte Carlo simulation. The dose was 130.8 Gy at 6 mm from the seed center with initial activity of 5.95 mCi. AAPM TG-43/60 parameters were determined. The reference dose rate for 2 mm and 6 mm were 0.67 and 0.02 cGy/s/mCi, respectively. The geometry function, radial dose function and anisotropy function were generated.

Ultrasound elevation beamwidth is the out of plane thickness causing image artefacts normally appearing around anechoic areas in the medium. These artefacts could also cause uncertainties in localizing objects (such as a surgical needle) in the ultrasound image slices. This thesis studies the clinical significance of elevation beamwidth artefacts in needle insertion procedures. A new measurement device was constructed to measure the transrectal ultrasound elevation beamwidth. The beam profiles of various lateral and axial distances to the transducer were generated. It is shown that the ultrasound elevation beamwidth converges to a point within its focal zone close to the transducer. This means that the transrectal ultrasound images have the best resolution within the focal zone of the ultrasound close to the transducer. It is also shown that the ultrasound device settings have a considerable impact on the amount of beamwidth artefacts. Needle tip localization error was examined for a curvilinear transrectal ultrasound transducer. Beveled prostate brachytherapy needles were inserted through all holes of a grid template orthogonal to the axial beam axis. The effects of device imaging parameters were also investigated on the amount of localization error. Based on the developed results, it was found that the imaging parameters of an ultrasound device have direct impact on the amount of object localization error from 0.5 mm to 4 mm. The smallest localization error occurs laterally close to the center of the grid template, and axially within the beam’s focal zone. Similarly, the largest localization error occurs laterally around both sides of the grid template, and axially within the beam’s far field. Using the ultrasound device with appropriate imaging settings could minimize the effects of these artefacts. We suggest to reduce the gain setting of the ultrasound device. This will reduce the energies assigned to the off-axis beams and as a result, the elevation beamwidth artefacts are minimized. / Thesis (Master, Computing) -- Queen's University, 2011-09-01 15:27:43.098

Thesis (M.Sc.). / Written for the Medical Physics Unit. Title from title page of PDF (viewed 2008/07/30). Includes bibliographical references.

Radioactive sources used in brachytherapy must be dosimetrically characterized prior to clinical use as defined the TG-43 protocol. In our previous project, Gafchromic film dosimetry was used to experimentally obtain the anisotropy function for an M-19 iridium-192 brachytherapy seed being developed by Source Production Equipment Corp (St. Rose, LA). In this project, the Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport code (MCNP) was used to computationally obtain the full set of TG-43 parameters including the Dose Rate Constant, the Reference Dose Rate, the Radial Dose Function, and the Anisotropy Constant for the M-19 seed.

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