Quantification of uncertainties in reference and relative dose measurements, dose calculations, and patient setup in modern external beam radiotherapy.

ABSTRACT: Uncertainties in the steps of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) affect patient outcomes. However, few studies have investigated major contributors to these uncertainties. This study investigated factors contributing to reducing uncertainty in delivering a dose to a target volume. The EBRT process was classified into four steps: reference dosimetry, relative dosimetry [percentage depth doses (PDDs) and off-center ratios (OCRs)], dose calculations (PDDs and OCRs in a virtual water phantom), and patient setup using an image-guided radiation therapy system. We evaluated the uncertainties for these steps in conventionally fractionated EBRT for intracranial disease using 4-, 6-, and 10-MV flattened photon beams generated from clinical linear accelerators following the Guide to the Expression of

SUBMITTER: Kinoshita N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11876197 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature