The Effects of the Statistical Uncertainties in Monte Carlo Photon Dose Calculation for the Radiation Therapy
Cheong, Kwang-Ho;Suh, Tae-Suk;Cho, Byung-Chul;
ABSTRACT
The Monte Carlo simulation requires very much time to obtain a result of acceptable accuracy. Therefore we should know the optimum number of history not to sacrifice time as well as the accuracy. In this study, we have investigated the effects of statistical uncertainties of the photon dose calculation. BEAMnrc and DOSXYZnrc systems were used for the Monte Carlo dose calculation and the case of mediastinum was simulated. The several dose calculation result from various number of histories had been obtained and analyzed using the criteria of isodose curve comparison, dose volume histogram comparison(DVH) and root mean-square differences(RMSD). Statistical uncertainties were observed most evidently in isodose curve comparison and RMSD while DVHs were less sensitive. The acceptable uncertainties $(bar{{Delta}D})$ of the Monte Carlo photon dose calculation for the radiation therapy were estimated within total 9% error or 1% error for over than $D_{max}/2$ voxels or voxels at maximum dose.
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