- 标题
- 摘要
- 关键词
- 实验方案
- 产品
-
A Monte Carlo based dosimetric characterization of Esteya <sup>?</sup> , an electronic surface brachytherapy unit
摘要： The purpose of this work is threefold: First, to obtain the phase-space of an electronic brachytherapy (eBT) system designed for surface skin treatments. Second, to explore the use of some efficiency enhancing (EFEN) strategies in the determination of the phase-space. Third, to use the phase-space previously obtained to perform a dosimetric characterization of the Esteya eBT system. Methods: The Monte Carlo study of the 69.5 kVp x-ray beam of the Esteya? unit (Elekta Brachytherapy, Veenendaal, The Netherlands) was performed with PENELOPE2014. The EFEN strategies included the use of variance reduction techniques and mixed Class II simulations, where transport parameters were fine-tuned. Four source models were studied varying the most relevant parameters characterizing the electron beam impinging the target: the energy spectrum (mono-energetic or Gaussian shaped), and the electron distribution over the focal spot (uniform or Gaussian shaped). Phase-spaces obtained were analyzed to detect differences in the calculated data due to the EFEN strategy or the source configuration. Depth dose curves and absorbed dose profiles were obtained for each source model and compared to experimental data previously published. Results: In our EFEN strategy, the interaction forcing variance reduction (VRIF) technique increases efficiency by a factor ~ 20. Tailoring the transport parameters values (C1 and C2) does not increase the efficiency in a significant way. Applying a universal cutoff energy EABS of 10 keV saves 84% of CPU time whilst showing negligible impact on the calculated results. Disabling the electron transport by imposing an electron energy cutoff of 70 keV (except for the target) saves an extra 8% (losing in the process 1.2% of the photons). The Gaussian energy source (FWHM = 10%, centered at the nominal kVp, homogeneous electron distribution) shows characteristic K-lines in its energy spectrum, not observed experimentally. The average photon energy using an ideal source (mono-energetic, homogeneous electron distribution) was 36.19 ± 0.09 keV, in agreement with the published measured data of 36.2 ± 0.2 keV. The use of a Gaussian-distributed electron source (mono-energetic) increases the penumbra by 50%, which is closer to the measurement results. The maximum discrepancy of the calculated percent depth dose with the corresponding measured values is 4.5% (at the phantom surface, less than 2 % beyond 1 mm depth) and 5% (for the 80% of the field) in the dose profile. Our results agree with the findings published by other authors and are consistent within the expected Type A and B uncertainties. Conclusions: Our results agree with the published measurement results within the reported uncertainties. The observed differences in PDD, dose profiles and photon spectrum come from three main sources of uncertainty: inter-machine variations, measurements and Monte Carlo calculations. It has been observed that a mono-energetic source with a Gaussian electron distribution over the focal spot is a suitable choice to reproduce the experimental data.
关键词： simulation efficiency,Monte Carlo simulation,electronic brachytherapy,surface treatment,dosimetry,x-ray source
更新于2025-09-23 15:21:21
-
Original paper Efficacy and safety of electronic brachytherapy for superficial and nodular basal cell carcinoma
摘要： Purpose: Surface electronic brachytherapy (EBT) is an alternative radiotherapy solution to external beam electron radiotherapy and high-dose-rate radionuclide-based brachytherapy. In fact, it is also an alternative solution to surgery for a subgroup of patients. The objective of this work is to confirm the clinical efficacy, toxicity and cosmesis of a new EBT system, namely Esteya? in the treatment of nodular and superficial basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Material and methods: This is a prospective single-center, non-randomized pilot study to assess the efficacy and safety of EBT in nodular and superficial BCC using the Esteya? system. The study was conducted from June 2014 to February 2015. The follow up time was 6 months for all cases. Results: Twenty patients with 23 lesions were included. A complete response was documented in all lesions (100%). A low level of toxicity was observed after the 4th fraction in all cases. Erythema was the most frequent adverse event. Cosmesis was excellent, with more than 60% of cases without skin alteration and with subtle changes in the rest. Conclusions: Electronic brachytherapy with Esteya? appears to be an effective, simple, safe, and comfortable treatment for nodular and superficial BCC associated with excellent cosmesis. It could be a good choice for elderly patients, patients with contraindications for surgery (due to comorbidities or anticoagulant drugs) or patients where surgery would result in a more disfiguring outcome. A longer follow-up and more studies are needed to confirm these preliminary results.
关键词： electronic brachytherapy,skin brachytherapy,basal cell carcinoma,skin cancer
更新于2025-09-04 15:30:14