Highlights
- •This study describes the first application of Monte Carlo software for pre‐treatment verification of HyperArc SRS plans.
- •The freely available Monte Carlo software called PRIMO is used.
- •PRIMO software was used in conjunction with the space phase files freely distributed by Varian for a TrueBeam linac.
Abstract
Purpose
To investigate the feasibility of using the free PRIMO Monte Carlo software for independent
dose check of cranial SRS plans designed with the Varian HyperArc (HA) technique.
Materials and methods
In this study, the PRIMO Monte Carlo software v. 0.3.64.1800 was used with the phase-space
files (v. 2, Feb. 27, 2013) provided by Varian for 6 MV flattening-filter-free (FFF)
photon beams from a Varian TrueBeam linear accelerator (linac), equipped with a Millennium
120 multileaf collimator (MLC). This configuration was validated by comparing the
percentage depth doses (PDDs), lateral profiles and relative output factors (OFs)
simulated in a water phantom against measurements for field sizes from 1 × 1 to 40 × 40 cm2. The agreement between simulated and experimental relative dose curves was evaluated
using a global (G) gamma index analysis. In addition, the accuracy of PRIMO to model
the MLC was investigated (dosimetric leaf gap, tongue and groove, leaf transmission
and interleaf leakage).
Thirty-five HA SRS plans computed in the Eclipse treatment planning system (TPS) were
simulated in PRIMO. The Acuros XB algorithm v. 16.10 (dose to medium) was used in
Eclipse. Sixty targets with diameters ranging from 6 to 33 mm were included. Agreement
between the dose distributions given by Eclipse and PRIMO was evaluated in terms of
3D global gamma passing rates (GPRs) for the 2 %/2 mm criteria.
Results
Average GPR greater than 95 % with the 2 %(G)/1 mm criteria were obtained over the
PDD and profiles of each field size. Differences between PRIMO calculated and measured
OFs were within 0.5 % in all fields, except for the 1 × 1 cm2 with a discrepancy of 1.5 %. Regarding the MLC modeling in PRIMO, an agreement within
3 % was achieved between calculated and experimental doses. Excellent agreement between
PRIMO and Eclipse was found for the 35 HA plans. The 3D global GPRs (2 %/2 mm) for
the targets and external patient contour were 99.6 % ± 1.1 % and 99.8 % ± 0.5 %, respectively.
Conclusions
According to the results described in this study, the PRIMO Monte Carlo software,
in conjunction with the 6X FFF Varian phase-space files, can be used as secondary
dose calculation software to check stereotactic radiosurgery plans from Eclipse using
the HyperArc technique.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 26, 2022
Accepted:
August 17,
2022
Received in revised form:
August 7,
2022
Received:
December 15,
2021
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Associazione Italiana di Fisica Medica e Sanitaria. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
