Fotina, I. (2008). Vorklinische Verifikation eines Bestrahlungsplanungssystems mit Monte-Carlo Dosisberechnung und biologischer Optimierung [Master Thesis, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://resolver.obvsg.at/urn:nbn:at:at-ubtuw:1-25802
The aim of this thesis was to investigate IMRT treatment planning with treatment planning systtem Monaco and to perform measurements for its commissioning and subsequent verification of the IMRT treatment plans. Monaco combines Monte Carlo dose calculation algorithm and biologically expressed objective functions. These two innovating features imply some specialties on commissioning measurements and planning process. Monte Carlo dose calculations aim to provide excellent level of accuracy for the dose calculation with insignificant prolongation of the planning time. Use of the biologically-based objective functions makes the planning process easy and transparent for any corrections and an EUD formalism of optimization constraints helps for the plan analysis and evaluation.<br />For the patient-specific plan validation we used dedicated phantoms, where IMRT plans were recalculated. The measurements with EBT films and ion chambers were performed and compared with the results from the treatment planning system. All results obtained with Monaco were inside the established acceptance criteria, which was also confirmed by verification on the independent software for monitor unit verification.<br />The acceptable dose deviation for ionization chamber measurements and MU verification should be below 3% and criteria for [gamma]-index verification also deal with 3 mm distance-to-agreement and 3% dose difference, expressed in terms of [gamma]mean and [gamma]>1.<br />The issues on planning and verification procedures together with respective results described in this thesis enable a safe implementation of such TPS into the clinical routine, but some follow-up dosimetric tests and further exploration of the system possibilities for different planning solutions are highly recommended.