Heterogeneities in lung dosimetry: MC, AAA and Acuros calculations

Abstract

Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy is a widespread therapy that aims to ablate a tumor by delivering high-dose distributions in few fractions. One of its main applications can be found in Early Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer where it has been proven to be a good alternative to surgery for those cases tumor that can not be surgically removed. The aim of this final degree project is to study and compare the absorbed dose distributions computed with Monte Carlo simulations and two commercial treatment-planning algorithms, namely AAA and Acuros. A comparison with a measurement using radiochromic film dosimetry was also performed. The uncertainties of the simulations as well as those intrinsic to the film do not allow us to reach a conclusion about the improvements of one calculation algorithm with respect to the other