Aim: Several plan quality metrics are available for the evaluation of stereotactic radiosurgery/radiotherapy plans. This is a retrospective analysis of 60 clinical treatment plans of arteriovenous malformation (AVM) patients to study clinical usefulness of selected plan quality metrics. Materials and Methods: The treatment coverage parameters Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) Conformity Index (CI_RTOG), RTOG Quality of Coverage (Q_RTOG), RTOG Homogeneity Index (HI_RTOG), Lomax Conformity Index (CI_Lomax), Paddick's Conformity Index (CI_Paddick), and dose gradient parameters Paddick's Gradient Index (GI_Paddick) and Equivalent Fall-off Distance (EFOD) were calculated for the cohort of patients. Before analyzing patient plans, the influence of calculation grid size on selected plan quality metrics was studied on spherical targets. Results: It was found that the plan quality metrics are independent of calculation grid size ≤2 mm. EFOD was found to increase linearly with increase in target volume, and a linear fit equation was obtained. Conclusions: The analysis shows that RTOG indices and EFOD would suffice for routine clinical radiosurgical treatment plan evaluation if a dose distribution is available for visual inspection.

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Purpose: This study compared three different methods used in registering cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) image set with planning CT image set for determining patient setup uncertainties during volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for breast cancer patients. Materials and Methods: Seven breast cancer patients treated with 50 Gy in 25 fractions using VMAT technique were chosen for this study. A total of 105 CBCT scans were acquired by image guidance protocol for patient setup verification. Approved plans' CT images were used as the reference image sets for registration with their corresponding CBCT image sets. Setup errors in mediolateral, craniocaudal, and anteroposterior direction were determined using gray-scale matching between the reference CT images and onboard CBCT images. Patient setup verification was performed using clip-box registration (CBR) method during online imaging. Considering the CBR method as the reference, two more registrations were performed using mask registration (MR) method and dual registration (DR) (CBR + MR) method in the offline mode. For comparison, systematic error (∑), random error (σ), mean displacement vector (R), mean setup error (M), and registration time (R_t) were analyzed. Post hoc Tukey's honest significant difference test was performed for multiple comparisons. Results: Systematic and random errors were less in CBR as compared to MR and DR (P > 0.05). The mean displacement error and mean setup errors were less in CBR as compared to MR and DR (P > 0.05). Increased R_twas observed in DR as compared to CBR and MR (P < 0.05). In addition, multiple comparisons did not show any significant difference in patient setup error (P > 0.05). Conclusion: For breast VMAT plan delivery, all three registration methods show insignificant variation in patient setup error. One can use any of the three registration methods for patient setup verification.

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Purpose: Dose calculation accuracy of the Varian Eclipse treatment planning system (TPS) is empirically assessed for small-aperture fields using a Mevion S250 double scattering proton therapy system. Materials and Methods: Five spherical pseudotumors were modeled in a RANDO head phantom. Plans were generated for the targets with apertures of 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 cm diameter using one, two, and three beams. Depth-dose curves and lateral profiles of the beams were taken with the planned blocks and compared to Eclipse calculations. Dose distributions measured with EBT3 films in the phantom were also compared to Eclipse calculations. Film quenching effect was simulated and considered. Results: Depth-dose scans in water showed a range pullback (up to 2.0 mm), modulation widening (up to 9.5 mm), and dose escalation in proximal end and sub-peak region (up to 15.5%) when compared to the Eclipse calculations for small fields. Measured full width at half maximum and penumbrae for lateral profiles differed <1.0 mm from calculations for most comparisons. In the phantom study, Eclipse TPS underestimated sub-peak dose. Gamma passing rates improved with each beam added to the plans. Greater range pullback and modulation degradation versus water scans were observed due to film quenching, which became more noticeable as target size increased. Conclusions: Eclipse TPS generates acceptable target coverage for small targets with carefully arranged multiple beams despite relatively large dose discrepancy for each beam. Surface doses higher than Eclipse calculations can be mitigated with multiple beams. When using EBT3 film, the quenching effect should be considered.

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Background: Hip prostheses (HPs) are routinely used in hip augmentation to replace painful or dysfunctional hip joints. However, high-density and high-atomic-number (Z) inserts may cause dose perturbations in the target volume and interface regions. Aim: To evaluate the dosimetric influence of various HPs during megavoltage conformal radiotherapy (RT) of the prostate using Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. Materials and Methods: BEAMnrc and DOSXYZnrc MC user-codes were respectively used to simulate the linac head and to calculate 3D absorbed dose distributions in a computed tomography (CT)-based phantom. A novel technique was used to synthetically introduce HPs into the raw patient CT dataset. The prosthesis materials evaluated were stainless steel (SS316L), titanium (Ti6Al4V), and ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). Four, five, and six conformal photon fields of 6–20 MV were used. Results: The absorbed dose within and beyond metallic prostheses dropped significantly due to beam attenuation. For bilateral HPs, the target dose reduction ranged up to 23% and 17% for SS316L and Ti6Al4V, respectively. For unilateral HP, the respective dose reductions were 19% and 12%. Dose enhancement was always <1% for UHMWPE. The 6-field plan produced the best target coverage. Up to 38% dose increase was found at the bone–SS316L proximal interface. Conclusions: The novel technique used enabled the complete exclusion of metal artifacts in the CT dataset. High-energy plans with more oblique beams can help minimize dose attenuation through HPs. Shadowing and interface effects are density dependent and greatest for SS316L, while UHMWPE poses negligible dose perturbation.

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Aim: The aim of this study is to measure and compare the surface dose of treated breast and contralateral breast with the treatment planning system (TPS) calculated dose using calibrated optically stimulated luminescent dosimeter (OSLD) in an indigenous wax breast phantom. Materials and Methods: Three-dimensional conformal plans were generated in eclipse TPS v. 13 to treat the left breast of a wax phantom for a prescribed dose of 200 cGy. The plans were calculated using anisotropic analytical algorithm (AAA) and Acuros algorithm with 1-mm grid size. Calibrated OSLDs were used to measure the surface dose of treated and contralateral breasts. Results: Large differences were observed between measured and expected doses when OSLDs were read in “reading mode” compared to the “hardware mode.” The consistency in the responses of OSLDs was better (deviation <±5%) in the “hardware mode.” Reasonable agreement between TPS dose and measured dose was found in regions inside the treatment field of treated breast using OSLDs for both algorithms. OSLD measured doses and TPS doses, for the points where the angle of incidence was almost normal, were in good agreement compared to all other locations where the angle of incidence varied from 45° to 70°. The maximum deviation between measured doses and calculated doses with AAA and with Acuros were 2.2% and-12.38%, respectively, for planning target volume breast, and 76% and 77.51%, respectively, for the opposite breast. Conclusion: An independent calibration factor is required before using the OSLDs for in vivo dose measurements. With reference to measured doses using OSLD, the accuracy of skin dose estimation of TPS with AAA was better than with Acuros for both the breasts. In general, a reasonable agreement between TPS doses calculated using AAA and measured doses exists in regions inside treatment field, but unacceptable differences were observed for the points lateral to the opposite breast for both AAA and Acuros.

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Introduction: Image quality of digital mammography system is generally defined by three primary physical parameters, namely, contrast, resolution, and noise. Quantification of these metrics can be done by measuring objective image quality parameters defined as contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), modulation transfer function (MTF), and noise power spectra (NPS). Materials and Methods: In the present study, various imaging metrics such as CNR, contrast detail resolution, MTF, and NPS were evaluated for a direct flat-panel detector-based digital mammography system following the European Guidelines. Furthermore, system performance relating to both image quality and doses were evaluated using figure of merit (FOM) in terms of CNR²/mean glandular dose (MGD) under automatic exposure control (AEC) and clinically used OPDOSE operating mode. Results and Conclusion: Under AEC mode, FOM values for the 4.5 cm thick BARC polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) phantom were found to be 15.02, 15.88, and 19.82 at Mo/Mo, Mo/Rh, and W/Rh target/filter (T/F), respectively. Under OPDOSE mode, FOM values were found to 65.32, 11.80, and 1.14 for the BARC PMMA phantom thickness of 2, 4.5, and 8 cm, respectively. Under OPDOSE mode, the calculated MGD values for three Computerized Imaging Reference Systems slab phantoms having total thickness of 7 cm were observed to be 3.03, 2.32, and 1.75 mGy with glandular/adipose tissue compositions of 70/30, 50/50, and 30/70, respectively, whereas for the 2–8-cm thick BARC PMMA phantom, the calculated MGDs were found to be in the range of 0.57–3.32 mGy. All the calculated MGDs values were found to be lower than the acceptable level of dose limits provided in European Guidelines.

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Purpose: The aim of this study is to compare the interfractional setup reproducibility of two types of patient immobilization devices for prostate cancer receiving image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT). Materials and Methods: The MOLDCARE (MC) involves hydraulic fixation, whereas the BlueBAG (BB) and Vac-Lock (VL) involve vacuum fixation. For 72 patients, each immobilization device was individually customized during computed tomography (CT) simulation. Before the treatment, bony registration was performed using orthogonal kV images and digitally reconstructed radiographs. The shift of the treatment couch was recorded as a benchmark in the first session. In subsequent sessions, the shifts from the benchmark were measured and analyzed. Soft-tissue registration was performed weekly by cone-beam CT and CT images, and the shifts were measured and analyzed. Results: In the superior-inferior and left-right directions, there were nearly no changes in the overall mean among the immobilization devices. In the anterior-posterior (AP) direction, the overall mean for the MC, BB, and VL were 0.34 ± 1.33, −0.47 ± 1.27, and −1.82 ± 1.65 mm, respectively. The mean shifts along the AP direction were approximately 1 mm more in patients immobilized on the BB and 2.5 mm more in those on the VL, compared to those on the MC, after the twentieth treatment. No significant changes were observed among the patients immobilized on those devices, respectively, in soft-tissue registration. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the settling of the vacuum fixation was caused by air leakage in the latter-half treatment, and the immobilization device type has no effect on the treatment-position reproducibility in IGRT.

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Background: In radiography examination, it is common to encounter patients undergoing repeated X-ray exposure after the rejection of a film image due to poor image quality. This subjects the patients to unnecessary radiation exposure and extra cost for the facility. This fact has required to investigate the causes of film rejection in common X-ray examinations. Aims: This study aims to obtain images, which are adequate for the clinical diagnostic purpose with minimum radiation dose to the patient in X-ray radiographic examination using film rejects analysis. Methods: A prospective, crosssectional study design was carried out for 3 months. The film rejection rate data were collected using standardized checklist as recommended by the National Radiation Protection Authority and International Atomic Energy Agency. Daily recordings were compiled by frontline radiographers and senior physicians. Statistical Analysis Used: Data were analyzed descriptively using SPSS of version 23 software. Results: Overall rejection rate was 319 (10.02%) in 3183 X-ray exposures. The rejection rates by hospitals are 33.7% in Adwa, 13% in Aksum, 9.6% in Suhul, 9.2% in AbiAdi, 7.7% in Humera, 7% in Wukro, 4.3% in Lemlem Karl, and 2.9% in Alamata General Hospitals. Conclusions: Rejected films were found to have been caused by numerous factors including incorrect exposure, poor technical judgment, patient motion, and improper film processing. Hence, strategies need to be developed within medical imaging departments to improve the situation.

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Purpose: An intensity-modulated X-ray brachytherapy system is being developed for various clinical applications. This new system makes it possible for clinical staff to control energy as well as dose rate for different tumor sites according to their sizes and radiobiological characteristics. Materials and Methods: This system is mainly composed of an X-ray tube, guide tube collimation, and secondary (pseudo) target. Due to its configuration, convenient modulations of fluorescent X-ray energy and intensity are possible. To observe applicability of this novel system for various primary and secondary target combinations, Monte Carlo simulation using MCNP5 was performed, and air measurements were done. As a primary and pseudo-target combination, silver–molybdenum (Ag-Mo), tungsten–neodymium (W-Nd), and tungsten–erbium (W-Er) were used for the calculation for dose profile. Specifically, a dose distribution was calculated around each of these target combinations. Dose distributions as a function of target angles were also calculated. The Ag-Mo combination was analyzed for Cartesian coordinates of xy, xz, and yz planes of the pseudo-target to observe dose distribution as a function of the angle of secondary target. Results: The results showed that radial dose fall-off of Ag-Mo was greater than commercially available brachytherapy sources (¹⁰³Pd and ¹²⁵I) due to its low characteristic X-ray energy. Conclusions: Dose distribution variance should be considered in beam modulation for clinical application. Dynamic movement of the pseudo-target is feasible and remains as a subject for future research.

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