Tx planning - dose metrics/isodose distribution Flashcards
Materials wedges are made from.
Lead, copper, steel
Distance hard wedge should be from skin, why?
> 15cm; e’ contamination
New def of Wedge Angle:
angle defined by wedge at depth of 10cm
What effect does depth have on Wedge Angle, why?
WA decreases with depth; Scatter fills in (wedge scatter increases
How does a hard wedge effect PDD?
it creates Beam Hardening - PDD increases by 1-2%
Equation to solve for Wedge Angle:
WA = 90 - (Hinge Angle / 2)
Where do hotspots occur when using a wedge, what causes this?
Under the thin part of wedge (toe); Increase with FS and Angle, Differential Attenuation
How do you correct for an incorrect Wedge used?
look this up
What are common clinical uses for a wedge?
- Parotid Wedge Pair
- Breast
- 3-Field Rectum
If wedged properly, where does the hotspot occur for a 3-field rectum?
Posteriorly (pt is prone), due to the PA beam
What are the Air-Gap correction types?
- Effective Attenuation
- Effective SSD
- TAR Method
- Isodose Shift Method
Most accurate Air-Gap Correction, why?
TAR Method; uses ratio of TARs or TMRs as correction factor
What is the equation used for TAR-Method air-gap correction?
Db = Da x (TMRb / TMRa)
2 characteristics related to tissue inhomogeneity
- Change in absorption of primary & scatter
2. Change of secondary electron fluence
Where does event 1 for tissue inhomegeneity dominate?
Near the boundary
Where does event 2 for tissue inhomegeneity dominate?
Away from and In
What is TERMA
Total Energy Released in MAtter
What is the difference between TERMA and KERMA?
TERMA contains bremmstrahlung
Explain the 2 types of Convolution:
- Basic - kernal is spatially invariant (same tear-drop), not good with inhomogeneity, not good with divergence;
- Fancy (or Collapsed Cone Convolution)- kernal is spatially variant, better with divergence, better with inhomogeneity by scaling densities
Example of Superposition
Monte Carlo
Four things 3D Methods account for:
- Primary and Secondary Radiations
- 3D Proximity of Inhomogeneity
- 3D Contour Irregularities
- 3D Inhomogeneity shape
Correction Factors not accounting for tissue density change is measured as _____:
% per cm
What are the correction factors for lung in relation to beam energy?
Orthovoltage: +8-10% Co-60: +4-5% 4 MV: +3-4% 10 MV: +2-3% 18 MV: +1-2%
What are the correction factors for bone in relation to beam energy?
Orthovoltage: - 10-15% Co-60: - 5-7% 4 MV: - 3-4% 10 MV: - 2-3% 18 MV: - 1-2%