Implementation and validation of anisotropic analytical algorithm in eclipse treatment planning system for indigenous telecobalt machine (Bhabhatron II)

Abstract

Background: The photon dose calculation model anisotropic analytical algorithm (AAA) available with eclipse integrated treatment planning system (TPS) (Varian) supports telecobalt dose calculation from Version 13.6 onward. Formerly, pencil beam convolution (PBC) was used for modeling telecobalt machines. Eclipse TPS no longer supports PBC dose calculation algorithm in v13.6 and above. The AAA dose calculation model is a three-dimensional PBC/superposition algorithm. Its configuration is based on Monte-Carlo-determined basic physical parameters that are tailored to measured clinical beam data. Aim: The study investigated the feasibility of clinical implementation of AAA in Eclipse TPS for Bhabhatron II. Materials and Methods: The indigenous telecobalt machine, Bhabhatron II, was configured as a generic machine because an inbuilt machine model for the same was not available in Varian Eclipse TPS algorithm library. In such a scenario, it was necessary to evaluate and validate dosimetric parameters of the TPS because improper tailoring would cause errors in dose calculations. Beam data measurements of the machine were carried out which were used for configuration of the algorithm. Result: After successful configuration, a variety of plans created in TPS were executed on the machine and subsequently evaluated. Conclusion: From this study, we concluded that AAA-based dose calculation in TPS is very well suited for accurate dose calculations for telecobalt machine and can be implemented for clinical use.

Keywords

• anisotropic analytical algorithm
• bhabhatron ii
• percentage depth dose
• telecobalt
• treatment planning system