Search

Background: In modern radiotherapy techniques, the frequently small and non-uniformed fields can increase treatment efficiency due to their highly conformal dose distribution. Particular features including lack of Lateral Charge Particle Equilibrium (LCPE) lead to detectors with high resolution since any error in obtained dosimetric data could cause patient mistreatments.Objective: This study aims to evaluate and compare two small detectors (Semiflex®3D and microdiamond) dosimetric characteristics in small field relative dosimetry.Material and Methods: In this experimental study, the dosimetric properties of Semiflex®3D and microdiamond were assessed under 6 and 15 MV photon beams. The linearity and stability of the detector’s response and dose rate were measured. Square-field sizes ranging from 0.6×0.6 - 5×5 cm2 were used for obtaining percentage depth dose curves (PDDs) and in-plane profiles. The angular and temperature dependence of both detectors’ responses were also studied.Results: The detector response shows good stability, no deviation from linearity, and low dose rate dependence (≤1.6%). PDDs and in-plan profiles of both detectors are in good agreement and no significant difference was observed except for the high dose gradient regions (P-value≤0.017). Both detectors demonstrated low angular dependence (

Background: Rosemary plant, with phenolic compounds, is known as an antioxidant herb and able to scavenge free radical agents in the biological environment; therefore, it is expected that the rosemary essential oil (R-EO) shows the radioprotective effect to protect individuals who are physically in contact with ionizing radiation. Objective: This study aimed to assess the radioprotective effect of R-EO on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).Material and Methods: In this experimental study, the toxicity of the rosemary essential oil on PBMCs was assessed by the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The cells were irradiated at 0. 25 and 200 cGy using a 6 MV X-ray linear accelerator. The survival, apoptosis, necrosis, and survival enhancement factors of cells were analyzed by MTT and flow cytometry analyses with a non-toxic concentration of the rosemary essential oil (IC10). Results: Irradiation of cells in the presence of R-EO caused a significant increase in cell survival compared with the control in both 25 and 200 cGy radiation doses. Also, the percentages of apoptosis and necrosis of cells showed a significant decrease compared with the control. Conclusion: Rosemary essential oil as a natural and non-toxic compound could show favorable radioprotective effects in such a way that significantly increases the survival rate and decreases the percentage of apoptosis and necrosis of PBMCs.

Background: The Mentha-Pulegium essential oil (MP-EO) contains different antioxidant compounds and reduces the indirect effects of dispersed ionizing radiation on biological systems. Objective: The current study aimed to assess a possible radio-protective effect of MP-EO on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).Material and Methods: In this experimental study, MP-EO was firstly prepared and PBMCs were then irradiated in various groups with doses of 25 and 200 cGy of X-rays in the presence of IC10 of MP-EO. After incubation times of 48h and 72h, the survival, apoptosis, and necrosis percentages of PBMCs were determined by MTT assay and flow cytometry analyses; the radio-protective effect of MP-EO was examined. Results: In the presence of 80 µg/ml (IC10) MP-EO, the mean survival percentage of irradiated PBMCs by radiation doses of 25 and 200 cGy was significantly increased after 48h of incubation compared with the control. At 72h of incubation, the mean survival percentage of irradiated PBMCs was significantly increased only at 25 cGy. The percentage of apoptosis and necrosis of PBMCs was significantly reduced in the presence of the MP-EO at both incubation times and radiation doses; therefore, the highest reduction was at 200 cGy and 48h incubation compared to the control. Conclusion: MP-EO as a natural, non-toxic, and cost-effective compound can exhibit a favorable in-vitro radio-protective effect by increasing the survival and decreasing the percentage of apoptosis and necrosis of irradiated PBMCs.

Purpose: Commissioning of a linear accelerator is a process of acquiring a set of data used for patient treatment. This article presents the beam data measurement results from the commissioning of a VitalBeamTM linac. Materials and Methods: Dosimetric properties for 6,10, and 15 MV photon beams and 6, 9, 12, and 16 MeV electron beams have been performed. Parameters, including Percentage Depth Dose (PDD), depth dose profile, symmetry, flatness, quality index, output factors, and the vital data for Treatment Planning System (TPS) commissioning were measured. The imported data were checked by CIRS phantom accordingly to IAEA TRS-430, TECDOC. Eight different positions of CIRS phantom CT were planned and treated. Finally, the calculated dose at a determined position was compared with measuring data to TPS validation. Results: After comparing 84 points in a different plan, the 83 points were in agreement with the criteria, and just for one point in 15 MV failed. Conclusion: Commissioning of dose and field flatness and symmetry are in tolerance intervals given by Varian. This proves that the studied lines meet the specification and can be used in clinical practice with all available electron and photon energies.

Introdution: The aim of this study was to evaluate and benchmark EGSnrc code in the simulation of 18 MV photon beam produced by Siemens Oncor® linear accelerator. Methods: This study was conducted in a comparative and simulation based on experience method. The Beamnrc code was used to model the accelerator head and generate phase space files. The phase space files were obtained with the following parameters: field size of 10×10 , the energy of 14 Mev up to 14.8 Mev, and Full Width at Hall of Maximun of 0.12 cm. The phase space files were then used as input to the Dosexyznrc code to do dosimetry in the homogeneous water phantom with 50×50×50 size. Then, the output of DOSXYZnrc code, 3ddose files were used to obtain depth-dose curves and dose profile curves. Finally, Simulations were compared with experimental data by using gamma index. Results: The energy tuning procedure have shown that the optimum energy and FWHM for the simulation model, were 14 Mev, 14.2 Mev , 14.4 Mev and 0.12 cm, respectively. The gamma index values, for depth-dose curves and dose-profile curve, were obtained less than 1. Conclusion: In this study, Monte Carlo model of Oncor® linac treatment head was simulated and the results have shown that the optimum nominal energy and FWHM were 14 Mev, 14.2 Mev, 14.4 Mev and 0.12 cm, respectively.

Introdution: In advanced radiotherapy techniques such as intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), the quality assurance (QA) is essential. This study aimed to compare the performance between GafchromicTM EBT3 film and Delta4® phantom (2D and 3D) in heterogeneous chest phantom using IMRT technique. Methods: In this experimental study, two IMRT plans (A and B) were prepared for radiotherapy of heterogeneous chest phantom. EBT3 film and Delta4 were used for dose measurement in the phantom. The 95% global gamma index accepted by the criteria of 3.3% mm and the dose threshold 20% as the standard criteria were considered in this study. The gamma index of the film and Delta4 were acquired by the verisoft and Delta4 software, respectively. Results: The mean gamma index with standard criteria between treatment planning system (TPS) dose calculations and film measurements was 96.95%, while it was equal to 97.7% and 98.45% between TPS calculations and 2D and 3D Delta4 cases, respectively. The mean 3D gamma analysis of the Delta4 with the given standard criteria was 0.75% and 1.5% higher than their 2D gamma analysis of the Delta4 and film, respectively. The mean gamma index value of film and Delta4 according to the plan B at the standard criteria was 0.24% higher than plan A (97.7% vs 97.46%). Conclusion: Both film and Delta4 showed acceptable standard gamma index for two plans implemented on the chest phantom using IMRT technique. So, according to the results of this study, it is concluded that in the centers where Delta4 is not available, EBT3 films with a simple heterogeneous phantom can be an alternative method.

Introdution: Intensity- modulated radiation therapy is one of the treatment methods for cancer tumors. The effectiveness of this method is dependent on the accuracy and treatment planning quality. Therefore, there is a need for a plan to select the angle and intensity simultaneous optimum of radiation. Methods: In this study, an mixed integer linear programming model was proposed for simultaneous optimization of angles and intensity in the GAMS programming environment.To implement the model, after the patient's CT was prepared, the organ cantoring was performed by CERR software and the Influence Matrix was obtained for each organ. After collecting the inputs of the problem, in order to obtain the desired outputs, was used from The GAMS software from the CPLEX solver. Results: Finally, the actual case of head and neck cancer is analyzed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the model. From the angle of the candidate, ، is chosen as the optimal radiation angles. The maximum dose received by the brainstem was 3. 999, Mandible 70, LeftOrbit 0.026, RightOrbit 0.440, Parotid Gland 0.881, OpticChiasm 0.177, OpticNerves 0.167, spinalcord 9.929 Gray and the minimum dose received by the tumor is 70 Gray. Also, the optimal amount of intensity for implementing the treatment plan on the patient is achieved. Conclusion: The dose received by each organ was significantly improved compared to prescribing doses. Similarly, the comparison of the Dose Volume Histogram obtained by solving a common problem with the model and software CERR, Represents the optimal performance of the model, which improves the security rate and reduces the cost for healthy tissues.

Purpose: To study the benefits of Directional Bremsstrahlung Splitting (DBS) dose variance reduction technique in BEAMnrc Monte Carlo (MC) code for Oncor® linac at 6MV and 18MV energies. Materials and Method: A MC model of Oncor® linac was built using BEAMnrc MC Code and verified by the measured data for 6MV and 18MV energies of various field sizes. Then Oncor® machine was modeled running DBS technique, and the efficiency of total fluence and spatial fluence for electron and photon, the efficiency of dose variance reduction of MC calculations for PDD on the central beam axis and lateral dose profile across the nominal field was measured and compared. Result: With applying DBS technique, the total fluence of electron and photon increased in turn 626.8 (6MV) and 983.4 (6MV), and 285.6 (18MV) and 737.8 (18MV), the spatial fluence of electron and photon improved in turn 308.6±1.35% (6MV) and 480.38±0.43% (6MV), and 153±0.9% (18MV) and 462.6±0.27% (18MV). Moreover, by running DBS technique, the efficiency of dose variance reduction for PDD MC dose calculations before maximum dose point and after dose maximum point enhanced 187.8±0.68% (6MV) and 184.6±0.65% (6MV), 156±0.43% (18MV) and 153±0.37% (18MV), respectively, and the efficiency of MC calculations for lateral dose profile remarkably on the central beam axis and across the treatment field raised in turn 197±0.66% (6MV) and 214.6±0.73% (6MV), 175±0.36% (18MV) and 181.4±0.45% (18MV). Conclusion: Applying dose variance reduction technique of DBS for modeling Oncor® linac with using BEAMnrc MC Code surprisingly improved the fluence of electron and photon, and it therefore enhanced the efficiency of dose variance reduction for MC calculations. As a result, running DBS in different kinds of MC simulation Codes might be beneficent in reducing the uncertainty of MC calculations.

Introduction Foodstuffs are known to contain natural and artificial radionuclides. Determination of radionuclide concentration is of great significance for the protection of human health. The main objective of the present study was the quantification of radionuclides in tea samples, cultivated in Guilan Province in North of Iran. Materials and Methods The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K, and 137Cs in 18 tea samples were measured, using a gamma spectrometry system. In addition, radium equivalent index (Raeq) and radiation hazard index (HI) were calculated. ANOVA test was used for the statistical analysis of the data Results The concentration of 137Cs was below the minimum detectable activity (MDA). The concentrations of 226Ra and 232Th ranged from < MDA to 0.042 and < MDA to 0.037 Bq/kg respectively. The mean concentration of 40K was 410±15 Bq/kg. Based on the findings, the concentration of 40K was significantly higher than other radionuclides (P