The goal of this thesis was to explore the effects of dose resolution, respiratory variation and dose calculation method on dose accuracy. To achieve this, two models of lung were created. The first model, called TISSUE, approximated the connective alveolar tissues of the lung. The second model, called BRANCH, approximated the lungs bronchial, arterial and venous branching networks. Both models were varied to represent the full inhalation, full exhalation and midbreath phases of the respiration cycle.<p> To explore the effects of dose resolution and respiratory variation on dose accuracy, each model was converted into a CT dataset and imported into a Monte Carlo simulation. The resulting dose distributions were compared and contrasted against dose distributions from Monte Carlo simulations which included the explicit model geometries. It was concluded that, regardless of respiratory phase, the exclusion of the connective tissue structures in the CT representation did not significantly effect the accuracy of dose calculations. However, the exclusion of the BRANCH structures resulted in dose underestimations as high as 14\% local to the branching structures. As lung density decreased, the overall dose accuracy marginally decreased.<p> To explore the effects of dose calculation method on dose accuracy, CT representations of the lung models were imported into the Pinnacle$^3$ treatment planning system. Dose distributions were calculated using the collapsed cone convolution method and compared to those derived using the Monte Carlo method. For both lung models, it was concluded that the accuracy of the collapsed cone algorithm decreased with decreasing density. At full inhalation lung density, the collapsed cone algorithm underestimated dose by as much as 15\%. Also, the accuracy of the CCC method decreased with decreasing field size.<p> Further work is needed to determine the source of the discrepancy.

The goal of this thesis was to explore the effects of dose resolution, respiratory variation and dose calculation method on dose accuracy. To achieve this, two models of lung were created. The first model, called TISSUE, approximated the connective alveolar tissues of the lung. The second model, called BRANCH, approximated the lungs bronchial, arterial and venous branching networks. Both models were varied to represent the full inhalation, full exhalation and midbreath phases of the respiration cycle.<p> To explore the effects of dose resolution and respiratory variation on dose accuracy, each model was converted into a CT dataset and imported into a Monte Carlo simulation. The resulting dose distributions were compared and contrasted against dose distributions from Monte Carlo simulations which included the explicit model geometries. It was concluded that, regardless of respiratory phase, the exclusion of the connective tissue structures in the CT representation did not significantly effect the accuracy of dose calculations. However, the exclusion of the BRANCH structures resulted in dose underestimations as high as 14\% local to the branching structures. As lung density decreased, the overall dose accuracy marginally decreased.<p> To explore the effects of dose calculation method on dose accuracy, CT representations of the lung models were imported into the Pinnacle$^3$ treatment planning system. Dose distributions were calculated using the collapsed cone convolution method and compared to those derived using the Monte Carlo method. For both lung models, it was concluded that the accuracy of the collapsed cone algorithm decreased with decreasing density. At full inhalation lung density, the collapsed cone algorithm underestimated dose by as much as 15\%. Also, the accuracy of the CCC method decreased with decreasing field size.<p> Further work is needed to determine the source of the discrepancy.

Tesis por compendio / [ES] La tesis tiene como objetivo principal el estudio del gas radón y sus descendientes. El radón es un gas radiactivo presente en la naturaleza que puede filtrarse en las viviendas y que se ha asociado con un mayor riesgo de cáncer de pulmón. A pesar de que existen regulaciones y recomendaciones para controlar la concentración de radón en el aire interior, es necesario hacer mediciones del factor de equilibrio, un parámetro esencial en la evaluación del riesgo de exposición al radón, y de las concentraciones de sus descendientes que pueden variar en diferentes situaciones y entornos. Por lo tanto, es fundamental comprender en profundidad el factor de equilibrio y las concentraciones de los descendientes y cómo pueden variar en diferentes ubicaciones y circunstancias. Esto implica, para el desarrollo de esta tesis, la toma de muestras de aire en el interior, la medición de la concentración de radón y de sus productos de desintegración, y la evaluación de factores ambientales, centrándose en la humedad relativa, y otros factores que podrían influir en la concentración del radón y sus descendientes en el ambiente interior. Con estos datos se desarrolla un modelo dosimétrico para el cálculo de la dosis por inhalación. Para comprender la variabilidad del factor de equilibrio en diferentes condiciones, se emplearán análisis estadísticos y se desarrollarán modelos matemáticos que integren los datos recopilados de las mediciones y los factores ambientales evaluados. Además, se considerará el uso de las mascarillas faciales como una posible medida factor que pueda influir en la reducción de la dosis por inhalación de los descendientes del radón. Se realizarán mediciones específicas con y sin mascarillas faciales para evaluar su impacto. / [CA] La tesi té com a objectiu principal l'estudi del gas radó i els seus descendents. El radó és un gas radiactiu present en la naturalesa que pot filtrar-se en les llars i que s'ha associat amb un major risc de càncer de pulmó. Tot i que existeixen regulacions i recomanacions per controlar la concentració de radó en l'aire interior, és necessari fer mesures del factor d'equilibri, un paràmetre essencial en l'avaluació del risc d'exposició al radó, i de les concentracions dels seus descendents que poden variar en diferents situacions i entorns. Per tant, és fonamental comprendre en profunditat el factor d'equilibri i les concentracions dels descendents i com poden variar en diferents ubicacions i circumstàncies. Això implica, per al desenvolupament d'aquesta tesi, la presa de mostres d'aire a l¿interior, la mesura de la concentració de radó i dels seus productes de decaïment, i l'avaluació de factors ambientals, centrant-se en la humitat relativa, i altres factors que podrien influir en la concentració del radó i els seus descendents en l'ambient interior. Amb aquestes dades es desenvolupa un model dosimètric per al càlcul de la dosi per inhalació. Per comprendre la variabilitat del factor d'equilibri en diferents condicions, s'emplearan anàlisis estadístics i es desenvoluparan models matemàtics que integren les dades recopilades de les mesures i els factors ambientals avaluats. A més, es considerarà l'ús de les mascaretes facials com una possible mesura que puga influir en la reducció de la dosi per inhalació dels descendents del radó. Es realitzaran mesures específiques amb i sense mascaretes facials per a avaluar el seu impacte. / [EN] The main objective of this thesis is the study of radon gas and its decay products. Radon is a radioactive gas present in nature that can seep into homes and has been associated with an increased risk of lung cancer. Although there are regulations and recommendations to control the concentration of radon in indoor air, measurements of the equilibrium factor, an essential parameter in the assessment of the risk of radon exposure, and of the concentrations of its decay products that can vary in different situations and environments, are necessary. Therefore, it is essential to thoroughly understand the equilibrium factor and the concentrations of the decay products and how they can vary in different locations and circumstances. To develop this thesis, it is necessary to take indoor air samples, measure the concentration of radon and its decay products, and evaluate environmental factors, focusing on relative humidity, and other factors that could influence the concentration of radon and its decay products in the indoor environment. With this data, a dosimetric model is developed for the calculation of inhalation doses. To understand the variability of the equilibrium factor in different conditions, statistical analyses will be used, and mathematical models that integrate the data collected from the measurements and the evaluated environmental factors will be developed. In addition, the use of face masks will be considered as a possible factor that may influence the reduction of inhalation doses of radon decay products. Specific measurements will be taken with and without face masks to evaluate their impact. / Martínez Ferri, JE. (2023). Estudio del factor de equilibrio y cálculo de dosis aplicados al gas radón [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/196830 / Compendio