Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A study on the effect of using a flattening filter in a medical linear accelerator on the dose distribution

  • Published:
Journal of the Korean Physical Society Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study compared the dependence of the tissue maximum ratio (TMR) and the beam profile on the use of a flattening filter when a linear accelerator is used for radiation exposure of a small field size. To examine change according to the field size, we limit the collimator size to 1, 2 and 3 cm. A water phantom and an ion chamber are used to measure each TMR while a diode is used to obtain the beam profile. The TMR is approximately 4% higher at a depth of 10 cm in the normal mode than it is in the stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) mode and approximately 8% higher at a depth of 20 cm in the normal mode than it is in the SRS mode. According to the measurement results for the beam profile, the dose decreases slightly faster in the SRS mode than in the normal mode. On the other hand, the two modes do not show any significant difference because similar shapes are observed in the two modes. According to the analysis results for the TMR and the beam profile for a small field size, there are almost no differences between the normal mode and the SRS mode. Therefore, the SRS mode can be used to increase the dose rate in radiation treatments that use a small field size and to reduce the time for treatment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. P. F. O’Brien, B. A. Gillies, M. Schwartz, C. Young and P. Davey, Med. Phys. 18, 519 (1991).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. M. Delannes, N. J. Daly, J. Bonnet, J. Sabatier and M. Tremoulet, Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. 21, 749 (1991).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. J. S. Tsai, B. A. Buck, G. K. Svensson, E. Alexander, C. W. Cheng, E. G. Mannarino and J. S. Loeffler, Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. 21, 737 (1991).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. J. E. Burns, Br. J. Radiol. 25, 153 (1996).

    Google Scholar 

  5. J. A. Purdy. Med. Phys. 4, 66 (1977).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. F. M. Khan, The physics of radiation therapy, 3rd ed. (Lippincott, Williams, & Wilmins, Philadelphia, 2007).

    Google Scholar 

  7. D. H. Jeong, J. O. Lee, J.K. Kang, S. K. Kim, S. K. Kim and S. R. Moon, J. Korean Soc. Ther. Radiol. Oncol. 16, 195 (1998).

    Google Scholar 

  8. E. H. Goo, J. S. Lee, M. J. Kim, K. R. Dong, D. C. Kweon and W. K. Chung, J. Korean Phys. Soc. 57, 506 (2011).

    Google Scholar 

  9. D. C. Kweon, J. S. Lee, E. H. Goo, M. J. Kim, J. E. Jung, W. K. Chung, K. R. Dong, J. K. Lee, C. W. Park and I. C. Im, J. Korean Phys. Soc. 58, 1184 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. M. Fliness, J. levine, P. Martin and P. Rouchon, Int. J. Control. 61, 1327 (1995)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. M. Constantin1, J. Perl, T. LoSasso, A. Salop, D. Whittum, A. Narula, M. Svatos and P. J. Keall, Med. Phys. 38, 4018 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. K. L. Lam, M. S. Muthuswamy and R. K. Ten Haken, Med. Phys. 23, 343 (1996).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. P. C. Lee, Med. Phys. 24, 1485 (1997).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. AAPM Task Group 21, Med. Phys. 10, 744 (1983).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiologic Technology, Daegu Health College, Daegu, 702-722, Korea

    Young-Jae Kim

  2. Department of Radiological Technology, Gwangju Health University, Gwangju, 501-701, Korea

    Kyung-Rae Dong

  3. Department of Nuclear Engineering, Chosun University, Gwangju, 501-759, Korea

    Kyung-Rae Dong & Woon-Kwan Chung

  4. Department of Radiological Science, Konyang University, Daejeon, 302-718, Korea

    Chang-Seon Lim

  5. Department of Radiological Science, Mokpo Science College, Mokpo, 530-730, Korea

    Cheon-Soo Jeong

  6. Department of Radiation Science and Technology, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, 561-756, Korea

    Cheon-Soo Jeong

  7. Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 500-787, Korea

    Yoon-Jeong Seo

Authors
  1. Young-Jae Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kyung-Rae Dong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Woon-Kwan Chung
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Chang-Seon Lim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Cheon-Soo Jeong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Yoon-Jeong Seo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Woon-Kwan Chung.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kim, YJ., Dong, KR., Chung, WK. et al. A study on the effect of using a flattening filter in a medical linear accelerator on the dose distribution. Journal of the Korean Physical Society 64, 917–922 (2014). https://doi.org/10.3938/jkps.64.917

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.3938/jkps.64.917

Keywords

Search

Navigation