A special work evolution was performed at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) with a particular 73As/74As source but the worker’s extremity dosimeter did not appear to provide appropriate dosimetric information for the tasks performed. This prompted a reconstruction of the dose to the worker’s hands. The computer code MCNP was chosen to model the tasks that the worker performed to evaluate the potential nonuniform hand dose distribution. A model was constructed similar to the worker’s hands to represent the performed handling tasks. The model included the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and the palm. The dose was calculated at the 7 mg cm-2 skin depth. To comply with the Code of Federal Regulations, 10 CFR 835, the 100 cm2 area that received the highest dose must be calculated. It could be determined if the dose received by the worker exceeded any regulatory limit. The computer code VARSKIN was also used to provide results to compare with those from MCNP where applicable. The results from the MCNP calculations showed that the dose to the worker’s hands did not exceed the regulatory limit of 0.5 Sv (50 rem). The equivalent nonuniform dose was 0.126 Sv (12.6 rem) to the right hand and 0.082 Sv (8.2 rem) to the left hand.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第21619号 / 医博第4425号 / 新制||医||1033(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 増永 慎一郎, 教授 松村 由美, 教授 富樫 かおり / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

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Electronic Portal Image Devices (EPID) são dispositivos eletrônicos que foram criados originalmente para aquisição de imagens portais. Atualmente eles também têm sido estudados para reconstrução de dose no plano do eixo central (paralelo ao EPID) na modalidade transit (modalidade que considera um material atenuador entre a fonte e o EPID). Neste trabalho foi determinado um algoritmo de reconstrução de dose para relacionar mapas bidimensionais de dose localizados dentro de geometrias que simularam uma situação clínica em radioterapia de forma simplificada. Para tal foram feitas simulações Monte Carlo utilizando o pacote de simulação PENELOPE de maneira que um cubo composto de água representou o corpo do paciente e um paralelepípedo retângulo composto de água representou o EPID. Definiu-se primeiramente a geometria controle e os parâmetros de irradiação controle e então foram feitas simulações para determinar a equação de reconstrução de dose referencial. Uma vez determinada essa equação, foram feitas novas simulações variando o tamanho de campo, espessura do objeto simulador do corpo, distância entre a fonte e a superfície de entrada do objeto simulador do corpo (DFS) e distância entre a superfície de saída do objeto simulador do corpo e o centro do objeto simulador do EPID (DSDE). Os arquivos de saída dessas simulações alimentaram o programa contendo o algoritmo de reconstrução de dose, feito em MATLAB®. Após a aplicação do programa, comparou-se a matriz que representa o mapa bidimensional localizado dentro do objeto simulador do corpo com a matriz localizada no mesmo local, reconstruída a partir da matriz que representa o objeto simulador do EPID. Os resultados encontrados neste trabalho mostram que a equação de reconstrução de dose e o algoritmo de reconstrução de dose propostos são válidos com desvios padrão menor que 1,6%. / Electronic Portal Image Devices (EPID) were originally created to acquire portal images, but they have also been studied for dose reconstruction in the central axis plane (parallel to the EPID) in transit mode (mode which considers an attenuator material between the source and the EPID). In this work we determined a dose reconstruction algorithm that relate two-dimensional dose maps located within geometries that simulated a clinical situation in simplified form. For this, simulations were performed using the simulation package PENELOPE so that a cube composed of water represented the patients body and a rectangle parallelepiped composed of water represented the EPID. We defined a control geometry and control irradiation parameters first, then simulations were performed to determine the referential dose reconstruction equation. Once determined this equation, new simulations were performed varying the field size, the body phantom thickness, the distance between the source and the body phantom entrance surface (DFS) and the distance between the body phantom exit surface and the EPID phantom center. The output files of these simulations fed the program containing the dose reconstruction algorithm, wrote in MATLAB®. After the program application, we compared the matrix that represents the two-dimensional map located within the body phantom with the matrix located at the same site, reconstructed from the matrix that represents the EPID phantom. The results in this work show that the dose reconstruction equation and the dose reconstruction algorithm proposed are valid with less than 1,6% standard deviation.

Evidence that radiation-related cardiovascular disease and second primary cancers can occur in cancer survivors following radiation therapy (RT) has emerged from several independent sources. Cardiotoxicity and second cancers are of particular concern for patients with good prognosis, such as those with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). HL patients are among the youngest to receive RT, which means that those who are cured of their cancer have decades-long natural life-expectancies during which treatment-related long-term toxicities may cause years of excess morbidity or premature mortality. A considerable amount of research has been conducted to investigate the risk of radiation-related cardiotoxicity and second cancers. However, there are still substantial gaps in knowledge. It is therefore important to improve our understanding regarding these risks and develop treatment approaches and survivorship care to minimise their impact on patients' quality of life. In this thesis, I have investigated the risk of congestive heart failure (CHF) in a cohort of 2619 HL survivors and presented, for the first time, dose-response relationships for risk of CHF versus cardiac radiation doses. I also validated the radiation dosimetry method used to estimate the cardiac doses in this study as well as for other reconstruction methods, versus a gold standard based on the patients' own computed tomography scans. Additionally, I investigated what effect the dose reconstruction errors had on the dose-response relationships. I then focused on modern RT methods and specifically on proton RT. Based on published dose-response relationships (including that developed in this thesis) I predicted cardiovascular and second cancer risks for patients treated with advanced RT. This thesis has provided new knowledge in the study of late effects in HL patients who were treated decades ago as well as for patients treated more recently with advanced RT methods. The results here can be used to facilitate progress towards personalised RT in terms of choosing the appropriate RT method by integrating individualised risk prediction in advanced RT treatment planning. The research here provides the basis for further work towards evidence-based case selection for HL patients for the first NHS proton therapy centres in the UK, opening in 2018-2021.

Electronic Portal Image Devices (EPID) são dispositivos eletrônicos que foram criados originalmente para aquisição de imagens portais. Atualmente eles também têm sido estudados para reconstrução de dose no plano do eixo central (paralelo ao EPID) na modalidade transit (modalidade que considera um material atenuador entre a fonte e o EPID). Neste trabalho foi determinado um algoritmo de reconstrução de dose para relacionar mapas bidimensionais de dose localizados dentro de geometrias que simularam uma situação clínica em radioterapia de forma simplificada. Para tal foram feitas simulações Monte Carlo utilizando o pacote de simulação PENELOPE de maneira que um cubo composto de água representou o corpo do paciente e um paralelepípedo retângulo composto de água representou o EPID. Definiu-se primeiramente a geometria controle e os parâmetros de irradiação controle e então foram feitas simulações para determinar a equação de reconstrução de dose referencial. Uma vez determinada essa equação, foram feitas novas simulações variando o tamanho de campo, espessura do objeto simulador do corpo, distância entre a fonte e a superfície de entrada do objeto simulador do corpo (DFS) e distância entre a superfície de saída do objeto simulador do corpo e o centro do objeto simulador do EPID (DSDE). Os arquivos de saída dessas simulações alimentaram o programa contendo o algoritmo de reconstrução de dose, feito em MATLAB®. Após a aplicação do programa, comparou-se a matriz que representa o mapa bidimensional localizado dentro do objeto simulador do corpo com a matriz localizada no mesmo local, reconstruída a partir da matriz que representa o objeto simulador do EPID. Os resultados encontrados neste trabalho mostram que a equação de reconstrução de dose e o algoritmo de reconstrução de dose propostos são válidos com desvios padrão menor que 1,6%. / Electronic Portal Image Devices (EPID) were originally created to acquire portal images, but they have also been studied for dose reconstruction in the central axis plane (parallel to the EPID) in transit mode (mode which considers an attenuator material between the source and the EPID). In this work we determined a dose reconstruction algorithm that relate two-dimensional dose maps located within geometries that simulated a clinical situation in simplified form. For this, simulations were performed using the simulation package PENELOPE so that a cube composed of water represented the patients body and a rectangle parallelepiped composed of water represented the EPID. We defined a control geometry and control irradiation parameters first, then simulations were performed to determine the referential dose reconstruction equation. Once determined this equation, new simulations were performed varying the field size, the body phantom thickness, the distance between the source and the body phantom entrance surface (DFS) and the distance between the body phantom exit surface and the EPID phantom center. The output files of these simulations fed the program containing the dose reconstruction algorithm, wrote in MATLAB®. After the program application, we compared the matrix that represents the two-dimensional map located within the body phantom with the matrix located at the same site, reconstructed from the matrix that represents the EPID phantom. The results in this work show that the dose reconstruction equation and the dose reconstruction algorithm proposed are valid with less than 1,6% standard deviation.

At the BC Cancer Agency (BCCA), Vancouver Island Centre (VIC), the clinical verification of Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) treatment plans involves comparing Portal Image (PI) -based three-dimensionally reconstructed (EPIDose) dose distributions to planned doses calculated using the Pencil Beam Convolution (PBC) algorithm. Discrepancies surpassing established action levels constitute failure. Since 2007, the failure rate of IMRT verification process had been increasing, reaching as high as 18.5% in 2009. A retrospective evaluation of clinical IMRT verification failures was conducted to identify causes and possible resolutions. Thirty clinical verification failures were identified. An equipment malfunction was discovered and subsequently repaired, and several failures were resolved in the process. Statistical uncertainty in measurement outcome was small in comparison to action levels and not considered significant to the production of failures. Still, over 50% of the redelivered plans were shown to consistently fail. A subgroup of consistent verification plans were compared to ion chamber point dose measurements. Relative to ion chamber measurements, EPIDose underestimated the dose while the dose calculation algorithm (PBC, Eclipse version 8.1.18) overestimated the same point dose. Comparisons of individual fields demonstrated that none were identifiably problematic; dose discrepancies were the result of minor but accumulating dose differences. Consistent verification failures were recalculated using two advanced dose calculation engines (the Anisotropic Analytical Algorithm and Monte Carlo). In general, verification metrics improved, and all failures were resolved. Three distinct indices of fluence modulation (or complexity) were shown to correlate with verification metrics. This indicated that deficiencies in both the leaf motion calculator and the PBC (Eclipse version 8.1.18) had likely contributed to the production of failures. In conclusion, clinical verification failures were resolved retrospectively by replacing faulty equipment and using more advanced methods of planned dose calculation, supporting the efficacy and continued use of PI-based three dimensional dose reconstruction for IMRT verification.

Cette thèse a été réalisée dans le cadre de la dosimétrie des faisceaux de haute énergie délivrés au patient pendant un traitement de radiothérapie externe. L'objectif de ce travail est de vérifier que la distribution de dose 3D absorbée dans le patient est conforme au calcul réalisé sur le système de planification de traitement (TPS) à partir de l'imageur portal (en anglais : Electronic Portal Imaging Device, EPID). L'acquisition est réalisée en mode continu avec le détecteur aS-1200 au silicium amorphe embarqué sur la machine TrueBeam STx (VARIAN Medical system, Palo Alto, USA). Les faisceaux ont une énergie de 10 MeV et un débit de 600 UM.min-1. La distance source-détecteur (DSD) est de 150 cm. Après correction des pixels défectueux, une étape d'étalonnage permet de convertir leur signal en dose absorbée dans l'eau via une fonction de réponse. Des kernels de correction sont également utilisés pour prendre en compte la différence de matériaux entre l'EPID et l'eau et pour corriger la pénombre sur les profils de dose. Un premier modèle de calcul a permis ensuite de rétroprojeter la dose portale en milieu homogène en prenant en compte plusieurs phénomènes : les photons diffusés provenant du fantôme et rajoutant un excès de signal sur les images, l'atténuation des faisceaux, la diffusion dans le fantôme, l'effet de build-up et l'effet de durcissement du faisceau avec la profondeur. La dose reconstruite est comparée à celle calculée par le TPS avec une analyse gamma globale (3% du maximum de dose et 3 mm de DTA). L'algorithme a été testé sur un fantôme cylindrique homogène et sur un fantôme de pelvis à partir de champs modulés en intensité (RCMI) et à partir de champs d'arcthérapie volumique modulés, VMAT selon l'acronyme anglais Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy. Le modèle a ensuite été affiné pour prendre en compte les hétérogénéités traversées dans le milieu au moyen des distances équivalentes eau dans une nouvelle approche de dosimétrie plus connue sous le terme de " in aqua vivo " (1). Il a été testé sur un fantôme thorax et, in vivo sur 10 patients traités pour une tumeur de la prostate à partir de champs VMAT. Pour finir, le modèle in aqua a été testé sur le fantôme thorax avant et après y avoir appliqué certaines modifications afin d'évaluer la possibilité de détection de sources d'erreurs pouvant influencer la bonne délivrance de la dose au patient.[...] / This thesis aims at the dosimetry of high energy photon beams delivered to the patient during an external radiation therapy treatment. The objective of this work is to use EPID the Electronic Portal Imaging Device (EPID) in order to verify that the 3D absorbed dose distribution in the patient is consistent with the calculation performed on the Treatment Planning System (TPS). The acquisition is carried out in continuous mode with the aS-1200 amorphous silicon detector embedded on the TrueBeam STx machine (VARIAN Medical system, Palo Alto, USA) for 10MV photons with a 600 UM.min-1 dose rate. The source-detector distance (SDD) is 150 cm. After correction of the defective pixels, a calibration step is performed to convert the signal into an absorbed dose in water via a response function. Correction kernels are also used to take into account the difference in materials between EPID and water and to correct penumbra. A first model of backprojection was performed to reconstruct the absorbed dose distribution in a homogeneous medium by taking into account several phenomena: the scattered photons coming from the phantom to the EPID, the attenuation of the beams, the diffusion into the phantom, the build-up, and the effect of beam hardening with depth. The reconstructed dose is compared to the one calculated by the TPS with global gamma analysis (3% as the maximum dose difference criteria and 3mm as the distance to agreement criteria). The algorithm was tested on a homogeneous cylindrical phantom and a pelvis phantom for Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) and (Volumetric Arc Therapy (VMAT) technics. The model was then refined to take into account the heterogeneities in the medium by using radiological distances in a new dosimetrical approach better known as "in aqua vivo" (1). It has been tested on a thorax phantom and, in vivo on 10 patients treated for a prostate tumor from VMAT fields. Finally, the in aqua model was tested on the thorax phantom before and after making some modifications to evaluate the possibility of detecting errors that could affect the correct delivery of the dose to the patient. [...]