Dosimetric properties of photon beams from a flattening filter free clinical accelerator

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186 Scopus citations

Abstract

Basic dosimetric properties of 6 MV and 18 MV photon beams from a Varian Clinac 21EX accelerator operating without the flattening filter have been measured. These include dose rate data, depth dose dependencies and lateral profiles in a water phantom, total scatter factors and transmission factors of a multileaf collimator. The data are reviewed and compared with measurements for the flattened beams. The unflattened beams have the following: a higher dose rate by factors of 2.3 (6 MV) and 5.5 (18 MV) on the central axis; lower out-of-field dose due to reduced head scatter and softer spectra; less variation of the total scatter factor with field size; and less variation of the shape of lateral dose profiles with depth. The findings suggest that with a flattening filter free accelerator better radiation treatments can be developed, with shorter delivery times and lower doses to normal tissues and organs.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1907-1917
Number of pages11
JournalPhysics in medicine and biology
Volume51
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 7 2006

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiological and Ultrasound Technology
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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