A review of the use and potential of the GATE Monte Carlo simulation code for radiation therapy and dosimetry applications

Abstract

In this paper, the authors' review the applicability of the open-source GATE Monte Carlo simulation platform based on the GEANT4 toolkit for radiation therapy and dosimetry applications. The many applications of GATE for state-of-the-art radiotherapy simulations are described including external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy, intraoperative radiotherapy, hadrontherapy, molecular radiotherapy, and in vivo dose monitoring. Investigations that have been performed using GEANT4 only are also mentioned to illustrate the potential of GATE. The very practical feature of GATE making it easy to model both a treatment and an imaging acquisition within the same framework is emphasized. The computational times associated with several applications are provided to illustrate the practical feasibility of the simulations using current computing facilities.

A review of 3D image-based dosimetry, technical considerations and emerging perspectives in 90Y microsphere therapy

“…Platforms such as GATE, EGS and MCNP are being increasingly employed for their versatility for using patient specific scans to produce reference absorbed dose calculations. A typical patient-specific calculation can be performed using GATE in 16 hours (with 2% uncertainty), within the conventional pretherapeutic imaging to therapy time [83]. As these platforms and applications advance, further user end codes are expected to be available which may help to remove the barrier of detailed technical knowledge of the programs and concentrated resources required to perform these simulations in a clinical setting.…”

Monte-Carlo dosimetry for intraoperative radiotherapy using a low energy x-ray source

“…The squared sum of Edep and D are also provided and can be used to compute the statistical uncertainty when the simulation is split into multiple runs to improve computational efficiency. Equation 1 defines the statistical uncertainty e k at pixel k, with N being the number of primary events, d kt the deposited energy in pixel k at primary event t [10][11][12]. S k is an estimate of the standard error of the mean dose in voxel k.…”

Dosimetria por imagem para o planejamento específico por paciente em iodoterapia

“…Monte Carlo permite estimar a energia depositada e a dose absorvida em estudos de radioterapia e analises de imagens de Medicina Nuclear (SARRUT et al, 2014). (JAN et al, 2011).…”

“…(JAN et al, 2011). O GATE é um código aberto baseado na ferramenta GEANT4, porém com funções mais facilitadas e escritas simples, permitindo uma programação intuitiva (SARRUT et al, 2014).…”

“…O GATE é a única plataforma de simulação que permite o estudo de imageamento (PET e SPECT), radioterapia e de dosimetria (SARRUT et al, 2014).…”