Experimental Evaluation of MCDTK, the Monte Carlo DICOM Tool-Kit

Abstract

The Monte Carlo DICOM Tool-Kit (MCDTK) is a software suite designed for treatment plan dose verification, using the BEAMnrc and DOSXYZnrc Monte Carlo codes. MCDTK converts DICOM-format treatment plan information into Monte Carlo input files and compares the results of Monte Carlo treatment simulations with conventional treatment planning dose calculations. In this study, a treatment is planned using a commercial treatment planning system, delivered to a pelvis phantom containing ten thermoluminescent dosimeters and simulated using BEAMnrc and DOSXYZnrc using inputs derived from MCDTK. The dosimetric accuracy of the Monte Carlo data is then evaluated via comparisons with the dose distribution obtained from the treatment planning system as well as the in-phantom point dose measurements. The simulated beam arrangement produced by MCDTK is found to be in geometric agreement with the planned treatment. An isodose display generated from the Monte Carlo data by MCDTK shows general agreement with the isodose display obtained from the treatment planning system, except for small regions around density heterogeneities in the phantom, where the pencil-beam dose calculation performed by the treatment planning system is likely to be less accurate. All point dose measurements agree with the Monte Carlo data obtained using MCDTK, within confidence limits, and all except one of these point dose measurements show closer agreement with the Monte Carlo data than with the doses calculated by the treatment planning system. This study provides a simple demonstration of the geometric and dosimetric accuracy of Monte Carlo simulations based on information from MCDTK.

Retrospective evaluation of dosimetric quality for prostate carcinomas treated with 3D conformal, intensity modulated and volumetric modulated arc radiotherapy

“…Treatment plan data were exported from the Eclipse treatment planning system using the DICOM export functionality, producing an RTPLAN file (containing beam parameters), an RTSTRUCT file (containing volume definitions) and an RTDOSE file (containing the calculated dose distribution). The dose assessment metrics were extracted with TADA (Treatment and Dose Assessor), an expansion to the in‐house MCDTK (Monte Carlo DICOM ToolKit) software suite …”

“…The dose assessment metrics were extracted with TADA (Treatment and Dose Assessor), an expansion to the in-house MCDTK (Monte Carlo DICOM ToolKit) software suite. 17 , 18 …”

“…The dose assessment metrics were extracted with TADA (Treatment and Dose Assessor), an expansion to the in-house MCDTK (Monte Carlo DICOM ToolKit) software suite. 17,18 The TADA software utilizes the mDCM DICOM library to parse the information stored in the DICOM files. The calculated dose values in each of the volumes of interest were selected by scanning through the RTDOSE distribution, recording values contained in the structure.…”

Measured and Monte Carlo simulated surface dose reduction for superficial X‐rays incident on tissue with underlying air or bone

“…Using 1 × 10 7 histories for 50 kV and 100 kV and 5 × 10 7 for 150 kV spectral intensity uncertainties were ≈0.5% (1 SD). Dose distributions within a head CT data set were calculated for 50 kV and 150 kV beams, ϕ = 5 cm . For comparison homogeneous ( ρ = 1 g/cm 3 ) dose, distributions for each beam were also simulated.…”

“…Dose distributions within a head CT data set were calculated for 50 kV and 150 kV beams, / = 5 cm. 14,15 For comparison homogeneous (q = 1 g/cm 3 ) dose, distributions for each beam were also simulated. (DCF Farmer ÀDCF Markus ) between corresponding Farmer and Markus based values.…”