基于蒙特卡罗实现容积调强弧形治疗计划独立剂量验证的应用研究

目的 开发基于蒙特卡罗(MC)的验证平台实现容积调强弧形治疗(VMAT)计划的独立剂量验证。方法 利用EGSnrc/BEAMnrc构建Varian TrueBeam医用直线加速器的机头和准直器模型,并基于机头模型和自编程序搭建患者VMAT计划的独立剂量验证平台,通过平台模拟不同射野大小百分深度剂量(PDD)曲线和离轴比、两个不规则野以及头颈部、胸部和盆腔各1例患者剂量分布。比较不同射野大小PDD曲线和离轴比与蓝水箱测量结果差异,不规则射野与ArcCHECK实测的差异,再通过γ分析法、剂量体积直方图对比分析患者MC模拟剂量、计划系统计算剂量、ArcCHECK实测剂量之间差异,验证平台是否可用于独立剂量验证。结果 对4cm×4cm~40cm×40cm的PDD曲线和离轴比,MC模拟结果和测量结果一致性较好。不规则射野MC模拟结果与ArcCHECK实测相比,在3%/2mm、3%/3mm下γ通过率都在98.1%、99.1%以上;3例不同部位VMAT患者MC模拟剂量和ArcCheck实测剂量在3%/2mm、3%/3mm下γ通过率均好于93.8%、95.9%。通过三维γ分析计划系统计算剂量和MC模拟剂量在3%/3mm下鼻咽癌、肺癌、直肠癌的γ通过率分别为95.2%、98.6%、98.9%;在3%/2mm下依次为90.3%、95.1%、96.7%。结论 基于MC开发的验证平台模拟结果与实际测量结果一致性较好,其模拟结果更接近于患者体内真实剂量分布,初步结果显示可用于VMAT计划的精准独立剂量验证。

Application of independent dose verification of volumetric modulated arc therapy based on Monte Carlo

Objective To develop a verification platform based on Monte Carlo (MC) for independent dose verification of volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans. Methods The head model including collimator of Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator was constructed by using EGSnrc/BEAMnrc, and the independent dose verification platform for the patients’ VMAT plans was built based on the head model and an in-house code. The percent depth dose (PDD) curves and off-axis ratios for different field sizes, the dose distribution of two irregular fields and three VMAT plans of the head and neck, chest, and pelvis were simulated using the platform. The simulated results of the PDD curves and the off-axis ratios of different field sizes were compared with the blue water measurement results. The difference between the irregular fields and the actual ArcCHECK measurements was also investigated. Besides, the differences among the MC simulated dose, TPS calculated dose and the ArcCHECK measured dose were analyzed by several methods, such as γ analysis and dose-volume histogram to verify whether the platform could be independently employed for dose verification. Results The MC simulated results of PDD curves and off-axis ratios from 4cm×4cm to 40cm×40cm were in good agreement with the measured results. And the γ passing rates between the MC simulation and the ArcCHECK measurement for the irregular fields were above 98.1% and 99.1% for 3%/2 mm and 3%/3 mm, respectively. For VMAT plans of three patients, the γ results between the MC simulated dose and ArcCHECK measured dose were better than 93.8% and 95.9% under the criteria of 3%/2 mm and 3%/3 mm respectively. At the same time, the γ passing rates of nasopharyngeal, lung, and rectal cancers were 95.2%, 98.6% and 98.9% based on 3D γ analysis using TPS calculated dose and MC simulated dose under the criteria of 3%/3 mm;the passing rates of these three were 90.3%, 95.1% and 96.7% for 3%/2 mm, respectively. Conclusions The simulation results of the MC-based verification platform developed in this study show a good agreement with the actual measurement results, and the simulation results are closer to the real dose distribution using the patients’ data. The preliminary results demonstrate that the platform can be used for accurate independent dose verification of VMAT plans.