Validation of a Monte Carlo dose calculation algorithm for clinical electron beams in the presence of phantoms with complex heterogeneities

Author

• Shayla Landfair Enright

Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

2014

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Pella, Silvia

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to validate the Monte Carlo algorithm for electron radiotherapy in the Eclipse™ treatment planning system (TPS), and to compare the accuracy of the Electron Monte Carlo algorithm (eMC) to the Pencil Beam algorithm (PB) in Eclipse™. Dose distributions from GafChromic™ EBT3 film measurements were compared to dose distributions from eMC and PB treatment plans. Measurements were obtained with 6MeV, 9MeV, and 12MeV electron beams at various depths. A 1 cm thick solid water template with holes for bone-like and lung-like plugs was used to create assorted configurations and heterogeneities. Dose distributions from eMC plans agreed better with the film measurements based on gamma analysis. Gamma values for eMC were between 83%-99%, whereas gamma values for PB treatment plans were as low as 38.66%. Our results show that using the eMC algorithm will improve dose accuracy in regions with heterogeneities and should be considered over PB.

Extent

93 p.

Comments

Includes bibliography.|Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2014.|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Includes bibliography.

Recommended Citation

Enright, Shayla Landfair, "Validation of a Monte Carlo dose calculation algorithm for clinical electron beams in the presence of phantoms with complex heterogeneities" (2014). Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2010 - 2019. 1148.
https://digitalcommons.fau.edu/etd_general_6/1148

Identifier

FA00004192

Format

pdf