On calculation of the average linear energy transfer for radiobiological modelling

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Abstract

Applying the concept of linear energy transfer (LET) to modelling of biological effects of charged particles usually involves calculation of the average LET. To calculate this, the energy distribution of particles is characterized by either the source spectrumor fluence spectrum. Also, the average can be frequency- or dose-weighted. This makes four methods of calculating the average LET, each producing a different number. The purpose of this note is to describe which of these fourmethods is best suited for radio biological modelling. We focused on data for photons (x-rays and gammaradiation) because in this case differences in the four averagingmethods aremost pronounced. However, our conclusions are equally applicable to photons and hadrons. We based our arguments on recently emerged Monte Carlo data that fully account for transport of electrons downto very lowenergies comparable to the ionization potential of water. We concluded that the frequency average LET calculated using the fluence spectrum has better predictive power than does that calculated using any of the other three options. This optimal method is not newbut is different fromthose currently dominating research in this area.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number015001
JournalBiomedical Physics and Engineering Express
Volume7
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 20 2020

Keywords

  • Average LET
  • Hadron RBE
  • RBE modelling
  • X-rays RBE

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biophysics
  • Bioengineering
  • Biomaterials
  • Physiology
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Health Informatics

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