Monitor unit calculation on the beam axis of open and wedged asymmetric high-energy photon beams

An ESTRO booklet and a report of the Netherlands Commission on Radiation Dosimetry have been published recently describing empirical methods for monitor unit (MU) calculations in symmetrical high-energy photon beams. Both documents support the same basic ideas; firstly the separation of head scatter and volume scatter components and secondly the determination of head scatter quantities in a mini-phantom. Based on these ideas the methods previously described for MU calculations in symmetrical beams are extended to asymmetrical open and wedged beams in isocentric treatment conditions. All required dosimetric parameters (normalized head scatter factors, phantom scatter correction factors, wedge factors, off-axis ratios, quality index, and depth dose parameters) are determined as a function of beam axis position in order to study their off-axis dependence. Measurements are performed for 6 MV and 18 MV photon beams provided by two different dual-energy linear accelerators, a GE Saturne 42 and a Varian 2100 CD linac.