Pinnacle3 Physics

REFERENCE GUIDE

Release 9

English
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Philips Medical Systems
Pinnacle3 Physics Reference Guide

Equipment specifications are subject to

alteration without notice. All changes will be in
compliance with regulations governing
manufacture of medical equipment.

Printed in the United States of America.

Document number
4535 604 45211 A

Pinnacle3, P3IMRT, and P3MD are registered

trademarks, and AcQSim3 and Syntegra are
trademarks of Philips Medical Systems.

Sun, UltraSPARC, SPARCstation, and Solaris

are trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Orbit is a trademark of RaySearch

Laboratories AB.

IMFAST is a trademark of Siemens Medical

Systems, Inc., Oncology Care Systems.

Other brand or product names are trademarks

or registered trademarks of their respective
holders.

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No part of this publication may be reproduced,

transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval
system or translated into any human or
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without the consent of the copyright holder.

Unauthorized copying of this publication may

not only infringe copyright but also reduce the
ability of Philips Medical Systems to provide
accurate and up-to-date information to users
and operators alike.
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Philips Medical Systems (Cleveland), Inc. Medical Device Directive

5520 Nobel Drive, Suite 125 Pinnacle3 Radiation Therapy Planning System is CE
Fitchburg, WI 53711 Marked to the Medical Device Directive 93/42/EEC.
USA
Tel: +1 800 722 9377
Fax: +1 608 298 2101
Email: [email protected]
Web: medical.philips.com
InCenter: incenter.medical.philips.com
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Philips Medical Systems Nederland B.V.
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Device description
The Pinnacle3 Radiation Therapy Planning (RTP) software is composed of several modules including the core Pinnacle3
functionality, Syntegra, P3IMRT, P3MD, and AcQSim3. The Pinnacle3 RTP software runs on a Solaris UNIX
operating system or through a UNIX terminal emulation package on a personal computer, which allows qualified medical
personnel to enter patient data into the system, use that data to construct a plan for radiation therapy, and evaluate the
plan. Optionally, the qualified medical personnel may output the plan in an electronic or printed form for use by other
systems in the delivery of treatment to a patient.
Pinnacle3 includes networking capabilities to provide connectivity to other Pinnacle3, Syntegra, P3PC (remote planning),
P3MD, AcQSim3, or P3IMRT workstations, MS Windows-based Web Publishing servers, input devices and output
devices, as well as access to the Pinnacle3 database from any Pinnacle3 workstation available on the network. Networking
connectivity may be via either a local or wide area network.
This software is intended to be user-installable. Installation instructions appear on the CD insert included with the
software CD. You only need to load the software on the system(s) designated as the server(s) at your site. Web Publishing
servers come with the software installed and only need configuration at your site.
To enable use of the software, a licensing key must be issued by a Customer Support representative or your local
distributor. You may contact Customer Support at 1-800-722-9377 (US and Canada) or your local distributor for
assistance with installation or licensing.

Intended use
Pinnacle3 RTP system is a computer software package intended to provide support for radiation therapy treatment
planning for the treatment of benign or malignant disease processes. Pinnacle3 RTP system assists the clinician in
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formulating a treatment plan that maximizes the dose to the treatment volume while minimizing the dose to the
surrounding normal tissues. The system is capable of operating in both the forward planning and inverse planning modes.
The device is indicated for use in patients deemed to be acceptable candidates for radiation treatment in the judgement of
the clinician responsible for patient care. Plans generated using this system are used in the determination of the course of a
patients radiation treatment. They are to be evaluated, modified, and implemented by qualified medical personnel.

Contraindications
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There are no known contraindications regarding the use of the Pinnacle3 RTP system.

Pinnacle 3 Release 9 3
Intended audience
This manual is written for qualified medical personnel trained as users of Pinnacle3 RTP systems. You should make sure
that you have thoroughly read and completely understand the manuals and release notes that are delivered with the
software. Keep this manual and all other manuals delivered with the software near your Pinnacle3 system and review them
periodically. The initial installation procedure will be performed by a Field Service Engineer. If you suspect that your
system has an error, discontinue its use and contact Customer Support or your local distributor.

General Device Warnings

Do not load non-system software onto the computer used by this system without the direct authorization of
Philips Medical Systems. Feature performance and safety may be compromised.

To assure proper treatment, it is critical that a qualified medical person review and verify all system treatment
plan parameters using an independent verification method prior to treating patients using the plan.

We recommend that you review TG40, TG53, and other pertinent radiation therapy treatment standards and
incorporate those methods into your clinical practice to ensure that your use of the system results in the most
accurate treatment plans. TG40, TG53, and other reports are available publicly at the American Association of
Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) website.
Comprehensive QA for radiation oncology: Report of AAPM Radiation Therapy Committee Task Group 40.
Medical Physics 21(4), 1994.
American Association of Physicists in Medicine Radiation Therapy Committee Task Group 53: Quality
assurance for clinical radiotherapy treatment planning. Medical Physics 25(10), 1998.

The following clinical practices are recommended to verify the accuracy of each treatment plan:
An independent calculation of the monitor units for each beam of a plan and treatment time for each
brachytherapy plan.
Acquisition and review of portal images or review of multi-leaf collimator (MLC) leaf positions after import to
the treatment system.
A chart check prior to the plan being delivered or during the first week of treatment.
Independent review of the treatment plan prior to the delivery.
Cross-functional review of the plan in a weekly chart round.
Manual verification of record and verify settings after transfer to the treatment machine.
Verification of the SSD and field shape during patient setup.

These reviews should be performed for a new plan or when a change is made to any component of a plan.

U.S.A. law: CAUTION: Federal law restricts this device to use by or on the order of a physician.

Only qualified medical personnel should operate the system. New personnel should receive training prior to
unsupervised operation of the system. For more information, contact Customer Support or your local
distributor.
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Serious injury to patients can result due to the misapplication of this product. Make sure that you thoroughly
understand all the user instructions prior to using this device.

Pinnacle3 treatment plans may include the statement NOT FOR CLINICAL USE. Based on the machine or
isotope data and the treatment plan, the software determined that the plan cannot be delivered clinically. Do not
treat patients with plans that are not for clinical use.

Pinnacle3 includes sample data. This information is for reference purposes only. Do not treat patients with plans
based on sample machines or other sample data.

4 Pinnacle 3 Release 9
Contents

1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 9

2 Physical Machine Characteristics ............................................................................... 11

2.1 Leaf/jaw overlap ...................................................................................................... 11
2.2 Rounded leaf ends .................................................................................................. 13
2.3 Tongue and groove ................................................................................................. 14
2.4 Interleaf leakage transmission .................................................................................. 16
2.5 References ............................................................................................................... 16

3 Photon Beam Physics & Measured Data Requirements ......................................... 17

3.1 Convolution/superposition dose calculation ........................................................... 17
3.1.1 An overview of the model .......................................................................... 18
3.2 Measured data requirements for photon beams ....................................................... 19
3.2.1 Measured data summary ............................................................................ 19
3.2.2 Optional profiles for the corners of a field.................................................. 20
3.2.3 Data collection considerations for Elekta and Siemens machines ............... 21
3.2.4 Open field depth dose measurements for energy spectrum and
electron contamination determination ....................................................... 23
3.2.5 Measuring dose profiles for incident energy fluence inside field and
outside field ............................................................................................... 25
3.2.6 Wedged field depth dose measurements for adjusting the wedged
field spectrum ............................................................................................ 27
3.2.7 Wedged field measurements for adjusting the wedge-specific
model parameters....................................................................................... 28
3.2.8 Output factor measurements...................................................................... 29
3.2.9 Tray factor measurements .......................................................................... 34
3.2.10 Requirements for dynamic wedges ............................................................. 34
3.2.11 Requirements for motorized wedges........................................................... 35
3.3 Dose computation with dynamic wedges ................................................................ 35
3.3.1 Varian transmission array........................................................................... 36
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3.3.2 Siemens transmission array ........................................................................ 37

3.3.3 Vendor-independent effects ....................................................................... 37
3.3.4 Absolute dose calculation ........................................................................... 38
3.4 Photon model parameters ....................................................................................... 39
3.4.1 The energy spectrum.................................................................................. 39
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3.4.2 Electron contamination parameters............................................................ 40

3.4.3 In Field model parameters ......................................................................... 42
3.4.4 Out of Field model parameters .................................................................. 47

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3.5 Automodeling sequences ........................................................................................ 50
3.5.1 E_TuneAllInSections ................................................................................ 51
3.5.2 FineTuneCrossBeam ................................................................................. 51
3.5.3 FineTuneSpectrum.................................................................................... 51
3.5.4 FineTuneECAndSpectrum........................................................................ 52
3.5.5 FineTuneECInParallel............................................................................... 52
3.5.6 FineTuneECInSections ............................................................................. 52
3.5.7 FineTuneECSequentially........................................................................... 53
3.5.8 FineTuneModelForOpenAndWedgedFields ............................................. 53
3.5.9 FineTuneModifierScatter .......................................................................... 53
3.5.10 FineTuneAllForWedge.............................................................................. 53
3.5.11 FineTuneModelForFieldSize ..................................................................... 54
3.6 Photon beam output factor computation ............................................................... 54
3.6.1 How the software uses output factors ........................................................ 54
3.6.2 Why the softwares scatter factors cannot be measured .............................. 56
3.7 References and recommended reading .................................................................... 58

4 Electron Physics & Data Requirements .................................................................... 59

4.1 Required electron physics data ............................................................................... 59
4.1.1 Physical machine measurements ................................................................ 59
4.1.2 Depth dose measurements......................................................................... 59
4.1.3 In-air cross-axis dose profile measurements................................................ 62
4.1.4 Dose measurements in water ..................................................................... 65
4.1.5 Cutout material transmission factor measurement ..................................... 66
4.1.6 Output factor measurements ..................................................................... 67
4.2 Electron beam data modeling ................................................................................. 68
4.2.1 Adjusting computed profiles...................................................................... 68
4.2.2 Guidelines for tuning the off-axis ratios..................................................... 69
4.3 Electron beam output correction factor .................................................................. 72
4.3.1 Determination of scaling factor OFc ......................................................... 72
4.3.2 Scaling final dose by OFc for arbitrary field............................................... 73
4.4 References and recommended reading .................................................................... 75

5 Stereotactic Radiosurgery Physics & Data Requirements ..................................... 77

5.1 Stereotactic radiosurgery dose calculation ............................................................... 77
5.1.1 The pencil beam dose algorithm................................................................ 77
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5.2 Measured data requirements for stereotactic radiosurgery beams ............................ 79

5.2.1 Depth dose measurements......................................................................... 80
5.2.2 Cross-beam dose profiles ........................................................................... 81
5.2.3 Stereotactic radiosurgery output factors ..................................................... 81

6 Pinnacle 3 Release 9
6 Brachytherapy Physics .................................................................................................. 85
6.1 Brachytherapy dose calculation ............................................................................... 85
6.1.1 The geometric dose calculation method ..................................................... 85
6.1.2 TG43 dose computation method............................................................... 89
6.2 References and recommended reading .................................................................... 94

7 Additional Reference Information ............................................................................. 95

7.1 Compatible water phantom formats ....................................................................... 95
7.2 Measured data file formats ...................................................................................... 96
7.2.1 Full ASCII file format for dose profiles ...................................................... 97
7.2.2 Simple ASCII file format for dose profiles.................................................. 99

8 Physics Data Worksheets .......................................................................................... 101

8.1 Machine information - collimator jaws ................................................................. 102
8.2 Machine information - couch & collimator angles ................................................ 103
8.3 Machine information - gantry angles .................................................................... 104
8.4 Machine information - delivery parameters ........................................................... 105
8.5 Machine information - miscellaneous machine parameters ................................... 106
8.6 Multi-leaf collimator (MLC) information ............................................................. 107
8.7 Machine information - wedges .............................................................................. 110
8.8 Machine information - wedges .............................................................................. 112
8.9 Machine information - record and verify system ................................................... 113
8.10 Machine information - electron cones ................................................................... 114
8.11 Machine information - stereotactic collimators ..................................................... 115
8.12 Machine information - tolerance tables ................................................................. 116
8.13 Photon beam energy information ......................................................................... 117
8.14 Photon beam measured data worksheet 1: Open field ........................................... 118
8.15 Photon beam measured data worksheet 2: Open field ........................................... 119
8.16 Photon beam measured data worksheet 3: Open field ........................................... 120
8.17 Photon beam measured data worksheet 4: Open field ........................................... 121
8.18 Photon beam measured data worksheet 5: Open field ........................................... 122
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8.19 Photon beam measured data worksheet 6: Open field ........................................... 123
8.20 Photon beam measured data worksheet 7: Open field ........................................... 124
8.21 Photon beam measured data worksheet 8: MLC field ........................................... 125
8.22 Photon beam measured data worksheet 9: MLC field ........................................... 126
8.23 Photon beam measured data worksheet 10: MLC field ......................................... 127
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8.24 Photon beam measured data worksheet 11: MLC field ......................................... 128
8.25 Photon beam measured data worksheet 12: MLC field ......................................... 129
8.26 Photon beam output factors worksheet ................................................................. 130
8.27 Wedged field output factors worksheet ................................................................. 131
8.28 Stereotactic radiosurgery energy information ........................................................ 132
8.29 Stereotactic radiosurgery measured data worksheet ............................................... 133

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8.30 Stereotactic radiosurgery output factors worksheet ............................................... 134
8.31 Electron beam energy information ....................................................................... 135
8.32 Electron beam measured data worksheet 1 ........................................................... 136
8.33 Electron beam measured data worksheet 2 ........................................................... 137
8.34 Electron beam measured data worksheet 3 ........................................................... 138
8.35 Electron beam measured data worksheet 4 ........................................................... 139
8.36 Electron beam measured data worksheet 5 ........................................................... 140
8.37 Electron output factors worksheet 1 ..................................................................... 141

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8 Pinnacle 3 Release 9
1 Introduction

This guide describes the physics algorithms used in the Pinnacle3

Treatment Planning System as well as beam and source data you need to
collect. The guide includes descriptions of physics requirements, geometry
definitions, and worksheets to help you collect the following types of beam
and source data:
Photon beams
Stereotactic radiosurgery
Electron beams
Brachytherapy sources
In addition, this guide includes reference material that supplements the
information in the Pinnacle3 Physics Instructions for Use.
The Additional Reference Information chapter includes a list of
water phantom interfaces you can use with Pinnacle3, along with file
handling procedures. More information will be supplied by your sales
consultant and submitted on your site survey.
If you have questions about the information in this guide, contact
Customer Support at 1-800-722-9377 (US and Canada) or your local
distributor for assistance.
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Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Introduction 9

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10 Introduction Pinnacle 3 Release 9

2 Physical Machine Characteristics

The information in this chapter supplements the multi-leaf collimator

(MLC) information found in the Working with Machines and the
Machine Database chapter in the Pinnacle3 Physics Instructions for Use.

2.1 Leaf/jaw overlap

When a control point requires that one or more leaf pairs be closed, and
these leaf pairs are not completely covered by the jaws, the software pushes
the leaf pair junctions behind one of the jaws. This prevents the
transmission through the minimum dynamic leaf gap from contributing
to the incident energy fluence.
The software uses the Maximum leaf/jaw overlap and Minimum leaf/jaw
overlap fields found in the MLC Editor window to determine how far to
push the leaves beneath the jaw.
N OT E MLC Leaves are only pushed behind the jaws for machines in which interdigitation
is allowed and MLC does not replace jaws. In the MLC Editor window, the Allow
opposing adjacent leaves to overlap option must be set to Yes.

Maximum leaf/jaw overlap

This option lets you specify the largest allowable distance beneath the jaws
that any given leaf can extend. The software automatically attempts to
push the leaf to the maximum leaf/jaw overlap. However, in cases where
the field width is too large to accommodate this distance, the actual
leaf/jaw overlap may be smaller than the maximum leaf/jaw overlap.

Minimum leaf/jaw overlap

This option lets you specify the smallest allowable distance beneath the
jaws that any given leaf can extend. If the machine cannot meet this
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requirement due to the size of the field width, the software splits the beam.
The beams will be split if the following equation is satisfied:

FS > MTD LG LJO

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where FS is the field size along the leaf-travel direction, MTD is the
maximum tip difference allowed by the machine, LG is the minimum
dynamic leaf gap, and LJO is the minimum leaf/jaw overlap.
In some cases, the beams may be required to split even if the field size is
smaller than the maximum tip difference overall. For example, given a
field size of 14 cm, a maximum tip difference of 14.5 cm, a minimum

Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Physical Machine Characteristics 11

2.1 Leaf/jaw overlap

dynamic leaf gap of 0.05 cm, and a minimum leaf/jaw overlap of 0.5 cm,
the beams would be required to split because the field size is larger than
the maximum tip difference minus the minimum dynamic leaf gap and
the minimum leaf/jaw overlap.

Leaf/jaw overlap example

The example below illustrates a field size of 12 cm on a machine with a
maximum tip difference of 14.5 cm. The Minimum leaf/jaw overlap is set
to 0.2 cm, and the Maximum leaf/jaw overlap is set to 0.5 cm. In this
example, the maximum tip difference allowed by the machine is large
enough to accommodate the maximum leaf/jaw overlap.

Maximum leaf/jaw
overlap (0.5 cm)

Field size
(12 cm)

Minimum dynamic
leaf gap (0.5 cm)
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Minimum leaf/jaw
overlap (0.2 cm)

12 Physical Machine Characteristics Pinnacle 3 Release 9

Rounded leaf ends 2.2

2.2 Rounded leaf ends

The rounded leaf end is modeled as a circle segment that extends between
the top and bottom of the MLC leaf (defined by MLC leaf thickness). The
rounded leaf end model approximates the actual shape for the leaves that
do not have a perfectly circular profile. The radiation through the leaf tip
is attenuated by the thickness of the leaf traversed by the beam at each
point in the tip.
Leaf end radius of curvature

Leaf end radius of curvature

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Actual treatment leaf position Leaf position in Pinnacle3

Isocenter plane
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Leaf offset

The radius of curvature for the MLC leaves in published literature is about
8 cm for a Varian MLC1, and this is the default in Pinnacle3. The radius of
curvature for Elekta MLC leaves should be approximately 12.2 cm for

Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Physical Machine Characteristics 13

2.3 Tongue and groove

Beam Modulator machines and 15 cm for the other Elekta machines,

according to the manufacturer. The Siemens MLC does not have rounded
leaf ends, so set MLC Has Rounded Leaves to No in the MLC Editor
window.
Due to the approximation, radii of 4-20 cm are reasonable if they generate
the best fit to the measured data. To determine the optimal radius, vary
the radius between 4 cm and 20 cm then compare the models with the
measure profiles. Decreasing the radius widens the penumbra in the
direction parallel to the leaf motion. Increasing the radius sharpens the
penumbra.
The leaf position displayed, stored, and exported by Pinnacle3 is the leaf
position listed on the readout of the accelerator. It is the position of the tip
of the leaf projected to the isocenter plane. The actual leaf position used in
dose computation is the leaf position in Pinnacle3 plus the leaf offset.
N OT E The leaf offset is negative when the actual treatment leaf position is greater than
the leaf position in Pinnacle3. The leaf offset is positive when the actual treatment
leaf position is less than the leaf position in Pinnacle3.

Use the Leaf Offset Calibration table in the Rounded Leaf End
Specification window to correct for the difference between the actual leaf
positions and the leaf positions in Pinnacle3. The table shifts the
penumbra based on the leaf positions but does not affect the penumbra
shape. For more information about the offset table, see Graves, et al.2

2.3 Tongue and groove

The tongue and groove are the parts of a leaf that overlap with its adjacent
leaves. Each leaf has a tongue on one side and a groove on the other. The
tongue and groove limit the interleaf leakage by attenuating the radiation
by at least half of the MLC thickness. The tongue and groove width is the
amount of overlap between the tongue of a leaf and the groove of its
adjacent leaf. Set the tongue and groove width (in centimeters) on the
Leaves tab in the MLC Editor window.
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14 Physical Machine Characteristics Pinnacle 3 Release 9

Tongue and groove 2.3

To model the tongue and groove effect, vary the widths from 0.005 to
0.200 cm and compare the models to the measured profiles. Increasing the
width widens the penumbra in the direction perpendicular to the leaf
motion. Decreasing the width sharpens the penumbra.
MLC leaf front view

Tongue

Groove

Tongue and
groove width

MLC leaf top view

Tongue

Groove
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Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Physical Machine Characteristics 15

2.4 Interleaf leakage transmission

2.4 Interleaf leakage transmission

The interleaf leakage transmission, in conjunction with the tongue and
groove characteristics, models the intersection of two adjacent MLC
leaves. At the intersection, there is a small area where leakage occurs and
the total thickness through the tongue and groove is less than the total
thickness of the center of the MLC leaves. The Additional interleaf
leakage transmission field on the Leaves tab of the MLC Editor window
lets you specify the additional interleaf leakage transmission that should be
added to the MLC transmission in the region where two adjacent leaves
intersect. The range is 00.1 (10%). Published interleaf leakage
transmission values are about 1%1.
The additional interleaf leakage transmission can be determined by
comparing computed profiles at maximum phantom resolution for small
MLC fields with measured data perpendicular to the leaf motion in the
physics tool. Use 1 cm x 1 cm and 2 cm x 2 cm MLC fields for best
results. At a phantom resolution of 0.2 cm or less, enough detail is
available to approximate the amplitude of interleaf transmission spikes.

2.5 References
1 LoSasso T., C. Chui, and C. Ling. 1998. Physical and Dosimetric
Aspects of a Multileaf Collimation System Used in the Dynamic Mode
for Implementing Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy. Medical Physics
25 (10):1919-1927.
2 Graves M., A. Thompson, M. Martel, D. McShan, and B. Fraass.
2001. Calibration and Quality Assurance for Rounded Leaf-end MLC
Systems. Medical Physics 28(11) 2227-2233.

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16 Physical Machine Characteristics Pinnacle 3 Release 9

3 Photon Beam Physics & Measured Data
Requirements

This section describes the photon beam physics dose calculation and the
photon measured data requirements.

3.1 Convolution/superposition dose calculation

The convolution algorithm employed in the Pinnacle3 planning system is
based upon the work of Mackie (1985, 1988, 1990) and Papanikolaou
(1993). Rather than correcting measured dose distributions, the algorithm
computes dose distributions from first principles and, therefore, can
account for the effects of beam modifiers, the surface of the patient, and
tissue heterogeneities on the dose distribution.
The implemented algorithm has the following characteristics:
Modeling the incident energy fluence as it exits the accelerator head.
Head scatter is modeled using a Gaussian-based flattening filter scatter
model (Ahnesjo, 1994).
Primary transport for a beam is accomplished by projecting the incident
energy fluence through the density representation of a patient to
compute a TERMA (Total Energy Released per unit Mass) volume
using polyenergetic rays, with water equivalent depth hardening and
off-axis softening.
Beam modifiers are handled with the following effects: primary
attenuation, primary hardening, and primary boosting to account for
scatter from the modifier. Wedges and compensators receive all three
effects; blocks only attenuate the beam; bolus is treated as part of the
patient.
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A three-dimensional superposition of the TERMA with a polyenergetic

energy deposition kernel is used to compute dose. A ray-tracing
technique is used during the superposition to incorporate the effects of
heterogeneities on lateral scatter.
- Polyenergetic kernel construction is based on the energy spectrum at
the central axis and is determined during the modeling process.
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- To account for heterogeneities, the kernels are density-scaled during

superposition. Superposition is performed using collapsed cones.
The collapsed cones refer to the modeling of a cone in space using a
single ray corresponding to the central axis of the cone. However,
Pinnacle3 does not use analytical functions to fit to the kernel (as
described by Ahnesjo). Kernels are not tilted. Variable kernel

Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Photon Beam Physics & Measured Data Requirements 17

3.1 Convolution/superposition dose calculation

sampling in zenith angle is also performed to reduce artifacts caused

by non-tilted kernels, and to more uniformly distribute the energy
amongst the rays.
N OT E The current implementation of the photon dose algorithm uses an equivalent
square field size for calculation of the OFc contribution to the output factor
determination. The algorithm does not explicitly distinguish between two
rectangular fields, for example, 5 cm x 20 cm and 20 cm x 5 cm. The differences in
head scatter between the two example field sizes would instead be accounted for
with the Flattening Filter Scatter Source model.

3.1.1 An overview of the model

The Pinnacle3 photon beam model parameters characterize the radiation
exiting the head of the linear accelerator. The starting point for photon
modeling is a uniform plane describing the incident energy fluence. Then
Pinnacle3 adjusts the fluence model to account for the flattening filter, the
accelerator head, and beam modifiers such as blocks, wedges, and
compensators.
The horns in the beam produced by the flattening filter are modeled
either by removing an inverted cone from the distribution or with an
arbitrary profile that is radially symmetric about the central axis of the
beam.
Off-focus scatter produced in the accelerator head is modeled by
defining a 2D Gaussian function as a scatter source and adjusting the
incident energy fluence based on the portion of the scatter source visible
from each point in the incident energy fluence plane.
The geometric penumbra is modeled by convolving the fluence array
with a focal spot blurring function.
During planning, the shape of the field produced by blocks or multi-
leaf collimators is cut out of the fluence array leaving behind the
corresponding transmission through the shape-defining entity.
Beam modifiers such as wedges and compensators are included in the
fluence array by attenuating the energy fluence using the corresponding
thickness of the modifier. For static wedges and compensators, a
radiological depth array is also stored which allows for proper modeling
of the beam hardening due to the presence of the beam modifiers
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during the projection of the incident fluence array.

Pinnacle3 handles each of these aspects of the model using a parameter or
set of parameters which it iteratively adjusts during the modeling process
so that the dose computed by the model matches the dose generated from
your machine.
During the modeling process, different regions of the measured depth
doses and dose profiles are used to adjust the parameters which
characterize the beam.

18 Photon Beam Physics & Measured Data Requirements Pinnacle 3 Release 9

Measured data requirements for photon beams 3.2

3.2 Measured data requirements for photon beams

The Pinnacle3 photon dose algorithm is model-based rather than
measurement-based. This allows more accurate dose computation in non-
measurement configuration/geometry. Therefore, the measured data is
used to characterize the beam attributes rather than to create extensive
lookup tables of dose values.
During the beam modeling process, the measured beam data is used to
compare how well the computed dose for a given measurement geometry
matches the measured data for your machine. Once the model parameters
have been adjusted to match the characteristics of your machine, the
measured data is no longer used.
N OT E When acquiring beam data needed for modeling, keep the data in different files or
on separate disks. This avoids confusion when all the open field profiles are
separated from the wedged field profiles for a specific energy, especially if you are
entering a machine with multiple energies. You also may want to keep the depth
dose profiles separate from the cross-plane and in-plane profiles.

WA R N I N G The accuracy of the treatment planning dose calculation depends on the quality of
the data entered in the physics tool. If the quality of this data is poor, or if the
computed dose is not verified with measured data, the dose calculation may be
inaccurate. Please read and follow these instructions carefully.

3.2.1 Measured data summary

For each energy on each machine, you will need to measure the following
types of data. The specific measurement requirements are covered in the
following sections. All data must be measured in a water phantom or a
water equivalent phantom.
Depth dose curves from which the energy spectrum and electron
contamination are determined.
Dose profiles for the determination of incident energy fluence inside
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the field.
Dose profiles extending outside the field for the determination of
scatter dose and jaw transmission from the machine head components.
Various profiles with the MLC aperture to verify dose accuracy for
MLC fields.
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The calibration output factor.

Relative output factors.
The tray transmission factor and block and tray transmission factor.

Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Photon Beam Physics & Measured Data Requirements 19

3.2 Measured data requirements for photon beams

In addition, the following data must be measured for each wedge on each
machine at each energy: depth doses and dose profiles measured with the
wedge in place, and wedged field relative output factors.
N OT E If you have equipment that has the capacity, you can measure profiles and output
factors for field sizes smaller than those recommended in the following sections. You
may need to adjust the dose grids appropriately to fully utilize this data. In general,
you should measure output factors down to the smallest field sizes that you plan to
use clinically.

3.2.2 Optional profiles for the corners of a field

If you want to evaluate your model in the corners of the field, we
recommend creating additional X and Y profiles for the largest field in the
measurement geometry list. To do this, create four profiles, one for each
side of the field. The intersection of the profiles will show you the dose
in the corners of the field. To enter the offset from the central axis, use the
Bottom/Top Offset for X profiles and the Left/Right Offset for Y profiles.
N OT E Some scanning software automatically computes profiles for the corners of the
field.

Y profile Y profile

X profile

+Y offset

Bottom/Top
offset
-Y offset

X profile

-X offset +X offset
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Left/Right offset

20 Photon Beam Physics & Measured Data Requirements Pinnacle 3 Release 9

Measured data requirements for photon beams 3.2

3.2.3 Data collection considerations for Elekta and Siemens

machines
This section contains the general procedures you need to follow to collect
the jaw and MLC transmission data for Elekta and Siemens machines.
The remainder of this chapter contains detailed information about all of
the data you need to collect.

Elekta
In order for Pinnacle3 to model the MLC transmission accurately (for
non-Beam Modulator machines), the MLC must be positioned at least
1 cm beyond the backup jaw. The normal operation mode of an Elekta
machine (with the MLC leaves aligned with the backup jaw) makes it
difficult to measure only the jaw transmission or only the MLC
transmission.
Open field data should be collected in the same mode in which the
machine will be used. The MLC-defined fields can be measured in Elekta
Service Mode.
After you have imported the profiles into Pinnacle3, be sure to set the
MLC tracks jaws option to MLC tracks XY jaws for open fields in the
MLC Editor window.
Once you have completed automodeling, adjust the MLC transmission
and the X and Y jaw transmissions as necessary, and then compute dose
and validate your model. The transmission values you enter should
approximate the small-field transmission values that are appropriate for
your machine. The MLC transmission value is the most critical.
If you do not feel comfortable measuring the MLC-defined fields in
Elekta Service Mode, you can approximate the transmission values in the
physics tool. Enter the correct MLC and jaw transmission values prior to
starting automodeling. Once you have completed automodeling, adjust
the MLC transmission and the X and Y jaw transmissions as necessary,
and then compute dose and validate your model.
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3.2 Measured data requirements for photon beams

Siemens
It is difficult to measure individual transmission values for the jaws and
MLC on the Siemens machines for which the MLC replaces the jaw
because of the way the jaws and MLC work together.
Open field data should be collected in the same mode in which the
machine will be used.
You do not need to measure MLC-defined profiles as described in this
chapter because the open field data allows automodeling of the MLC
transmission.
After you have imported the profiles into Pinnacle3, be sure to set the
MLC tracks jaws option to MLC tracks XY jaws for open fields in the
MLC Editor window. Also, make sure you have the MLC replaces jaws
option set to Yes in the same window.
Once you have completed automodeling, adjust the MLC transmission
and the Y jaw transmission as necessary, and then compute dose and
validate your model. The transmission values you enter should
approximate the small-field transmission values that are appropriate for
your machine. The MLC transmission value is the most critical.

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22 Photon Beam Physics & Measured Data Requirements Pinnacle 3 Release 9

Measured data requirements for photon beams 3.2

3.2.4 Open field depth dose measurements for energy spectrum and
electron contamination determination
For each energy on each machine, central axis depth dose curves must be
measured using open fields. In the beam modeling process, the depth dose
curves are used to determine the energy spectrum. The setup information
for the depth dose measurements is provided below.
N OT E The measurement resolution (0.20 cm) is a recommended value. Data measured
using higher resolutions may be used, but the calculation time will increase. The use
of lower resolution data (increments of 0.30 cm or greater) can result in poor
models and inaccurate clinical results.

Required Data Description

Measurement Type Central axis depth dose

Field Sizes Open field 5 cm x 5 cm, 10 cm x 10 cm, 20 cm x 20 cm, 30 cm x 30 cm,

(non-fixed jaw machines) 20 cm x 5 cm, and 5 cm x 20 cm. Also include 40 cm x
40 cm or the largest possible field size.

Field Sizes MLC field Jaw sizes: 20 cm x 20 cm;

(optional) MLC fields: 2 cm x 2 cm, 3 cm x 3 cm, 5 cm x 5 cm, 10 cm x
(non-fixed jaw machines) 10 cm, and 15 cm x 15 cm

Field Sizes MLC field 2.4 cm x 2.4 cm, 3.2 cm x 3.2 cm, 4.8 cm x 4.8 cm,
(fixed jaw machines) 5.6 cm x 5.6 cm, 8.0 cm x 8.0 cm, 10.4 cm x 10.4 cm,
15.2 cm x 15.2 cm, and the largest possible field size.

Measurement Limits Minimum 0 to 25 cm depth

Resolution 0.20 cm increments

Setup SSD can be defined by the user. Isocenter at the water

surface or at a depth of 10 cm is recommended.

Modifiers None (open field)

N OT E IMRT can involve the use of very small, heavily blocked fields (2 cm x 2 cm or
smaller). Be sure to measure field sizes comparable to those you expect to treat.
Also, if you expect to use very small field sizes defined by the jaws, as opposed to
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the MLC leaves, you should also collect 2 cm x 2 cm and 3 cm x 3 cm PDDs and
profiles.
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Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Photon Beam Physics & Measured Data Requirements 23

3.2 Measured data requirements for photon beams

Beams Eye View

Largest Field Size

10 cm x 10 cm

5 cm x 5 cm

= SAD
(e.g., 100 cm)

Water
surface

Central axis
depth dose
with 0.20 cm
resolution

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24 Photon Beam Physics & Measured Data Requirements Pinnacle 3 Release 9

Measured data requirements for photon beams 3.2

3.2.5 Measuring dose profiles for incident energy fluence inside field
and outside field
These profiles will be used in adjusting the inside of field fluence and the
outside of field transmission. The measured profiles should extend as far
outside the field boundary as possible.
N OT E The measurement resolution (0.20 cm) is a recommended value. Data measured
using higher resolutions may be used, but the calculation time will increase. The use
of lower resolution data (increments of 0.30 cm or greater) can result in poor
models and inaccurate clinical results.

Required Data Description

Measurement Type Orthogonal (x and y) dose profiles through central axis.

Field Sizes* Open field 5 cm x 5 cm, 10 cm x 10 cm, 20 cm x 20 cm, 30 cm x 30 cm,

(non-fixed jaw machines) 20 cm x 5 cm, and 5 cm x 20 cm. Also include
40 cm x 40 cm or the largest possible field size.

Field Sizes* MLC field** Jaw sizes: 20 cm x 20 cm;

(non-fixed jaw machines) MLC fields: 2 cm x 2 cm, 3 cm x 3 cm, 5 cm x 5 cm,
10 cm x 10 cm, and 15 cm x 15 cm

Field Sizes* MLC field** 2.4 cm x 2.4 cm, 3.2 cm x 3.2 cm, 4.8 cm x 4.8 cm,
(fixed jaw machines) 5.6 cm x 5.6 cm, 8.0 cm x 8.0 cm, 10.4 cm x 10.4 cm,
15.2 cm x 15.2 cm, and the maximum field size

Depths dmax, 5 cm, 10 cm, and 20 cm.

Measurement Limits Measurements should extend as far outside the field

boundary as possible (minimum of 2 cm).

Resolution 0.20 cm or higher.

Setup SSD can be defined by the user. Isocenter at the water

surface or at a depth of 10 cm is recommended.

Modifiers None (open field)

N OT E IMRT can involve the use of very small, heavily blocked fields (2 cm x 2 cm or
smaller). Be sure to measure field sizes comparable to those you expect to treat.
4535 604 45211 A

Also, if you expect to use very small field sizes defined by the jaws, as opposed to
the MLC leaves, you should also collect 2 cm x 2 cm and 3 cm x 3 cm PDDs and
profiles.

N OT E To model more accurately the outer corners of large fields, you may also measure
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one or two additional X and Y profiles for the largest field size. For these profiles,
use a large offset from the central axis. For more information, see Optional profiles
for the corners of a field.

N OT E If you measure MLC field sizes other than those recommended above and you want
to use those measurements for automodeling, make sure the MLC leaves extend
past the jaws by at least 1 cm on one side or the measurements will not be used in
automodeling.

Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Photon Beam Physics & Measured Data Requirements 25

3.2 Measured data requirements for photon beams

N OT E MLC scans should avoid interleaf leakage and abutted leaf ends. The software
allows you to offset scans and to position closed leaf ends away from the CAX to
avoid these geometries. See the Importing and Entering Measured Beam Data
chapter in the Pinnacle3 Physics Instructions for Use for information.

Beams Eye View

Largest Field Size

10cm x 10cm

5cm x 5cm 20cm x 5cm

= SAD
(e.g., 100 cm)

5cm x 20cm

Water
surface

x
y

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26 Photon Beam Physics & Measured Data Requirements Pinnacle 3 Release 9

Measured data requirements for photon beams 3.2

3.2.6 Wedged field depth dose measurements for adjusting the

wedged field spectrum
These measurements are used in modeling the wedged field spectrum. If
you will be using dynamic or motorized wedges, see Requirements for
dynamic wedges and Requirements for motorized wedges for
additional requirements to those listed below.
N OT E The measurement resolution (0.20 cm) is a recommended value. Data measured
using higher resolutions may be used, but the calculation time will increase. The use
of lower resolution data (increments of 0.30 cm or greater) can result in poor
models and inaccurate clinical results.

Required Data Description

Measurement Type Central axis depth dose

Field Sizes 5 cm x 5 cm, 10 cm x 10 cm, 20 cm x 20 cm, and largest

(non-fixed jaw machines) field size possible

Field Sizes MLC field 2.4 cm x 2.4 cm, 3.2 cm x 3.2 cm, 4.8 cm x 4.8 cm,
(fixed jaw machines) 5.6 cm x 5.6 cm, 8.0 cm x 8.0 cm, 10.4 cm x 10.4 cm,
15.2 cm x 15.2 cm, and the maximum field size

Measurement Limits Minimum 0 to 25 cm depth

Resolution 0.20 cm increments

Setup SSD can be defined by the user. Isocenter at the water

surface or at a depth of 10 cm is recommended.

Modifiers The wedge to be modeled.

N OT E Be sure to measure field sizes comparable to those you expect to treat. Also, if you
expect to use very small field sizes defined by the jaws, as opposed to the MLC
leaves, you should also collect 2 cm x 2 cm and 3 cm x 3 cm PDDs and profiles.

Beams Eye View

Largest Field Size

20 cm x 20 cm
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10 cm x 10 cm

5 cm x 5 cm

= SAD
(e.g., 100 cm)
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Water
surface

Central axis
depth dose
with 0.20 cm
resolution

Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Photon Beam Physics & Measured Data Requirements 27

3.2 Measured data requirements for photon beams

3.2.7 Wedged field measurements for adjusting the wedge-specific

model parameters
These profiles will be used in modeling the wedge-specific model
parameters. If you will be using dynamic or motorized wedges, see
Requirements for dynamic wedges and Requirements for
motorized wedges for additional requirements to those listed below.
N OT E The measurement resolution (0.20 cm) is a recommended value. Data measured
using higher resolutions may be used, but the calculation time will increase. The use
of lower resolution data (increments of 0.30 cm or greater) can result in poor
models and inaccurate clinical results.

Required Data Description

Measurement Type Dose profiles through the central axis in the wedged
direction and the non-wedged direction.

Field Sizes In the wedged direction, 5 cm x 5 cm, 10 cm x 10 cm,

(non-fixed jaw machines) 20 cm x 20 cm, and the maximum field size.

Field Sizes MLC field In the wedged direction, 2.4 cm x 2.4 cm, 3.2 cm x 3.2 cm,
(fixed jaw machines) 4.8 cm x 4.8 cm, 5.6 cm x 5.6 cm, 8.0 cm x 8.0 cm,
10.4 cm x 10.4 cm, 15.2 cm x 15.2 cm, and the maximum
field size.

Depths dmax, 5 cm, 10 cm, and 20 cm. (In the non-wedged direction,
you only need to measure one depth for each field size to
verify the models validity.)

Measurement Limits Measurements should extend well outside the field.

Resolution 0.20 cm

Setup SSD can be defined by the user. Isocenter at the water

surface or at a depth of 10 cm is recommended.

Modifiers The wedge to be modeled.

N OT E Be sure to measure field sizes comparable to those you expect to treat. Also, if you
expect to use very small field sizes defined by the jaws, as opposed to the MLC
leaves, you should also collect 2 cm x 2 cm and 3 cm x 3 cm PDDs and profiles.

N OT E To model more accurately the outer corners of large fields, you may also measure
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one or two additional X and Y profiles for the largest field size. For these profiles,
use a large offset from the central axis. For more information, see Optional profiles
for the corners of a field.

28 Photon Beam Physics & Measured Data Requirements Pinnacle 3 Release 9

Measured data requirements for photon beams 3.2

= SAD
(e.g., 100 cm)

Water
surface

3.2.8 Output factor measurements

To calibrate your machine, you measure the ionization at a specified
reference depth, convert the measurement to dose at the same reference
depth, and then divide it by the proper central axis percentage depth dose.
The result determines the dose for a standard field size (usually
10 cm x 10 cm) and standard SSD (usually 100 cm, and equal to SAD).
For fixed jaw machines, the standard field size is defined by the user and
corresponds to an MLC-defined field instead of a jaw-defined field.
As the field size changes, so too does radiation output. To measure this
change, divide the output at a specific depth (usually 10 cm) on the
central axis for each field size by the output at the same depth on the
central axis for the standard field. These ratios are called output factors.
For each energy on each machine, you need to measure a calibration
output factor and relative output factors. In addition, you must measure
wedged field output factors for each wedge that will be used with that
energy.
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Buildup and Dmax doses

We strongly recommend that photon output factors be taken at 10 cm
depth for all energies. This is due to the uncertainty of absolute dose
computation and measurement errors at dmax.
Two effects contribute to dose uncertainty at dmax and in the buildup
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region:
Contaminant electrons, which scatter off the flattening filter and
collimators, enter the patient and boost the dose in the buildup region.
In Pinnacle3, an exponential function is used to model electron
contamination and this electron dose is added to the photon dose.

Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Photon Beam Physics & Measured Data Requirements 29

3.2 Measured data requirements for photon beams

Because it is difficult to measure the dose at dmax, the AAPM TG21

protocol recommends a calibration depth of 5 cm for low energy beams
(10 MV and below) and 10 cm for higher energy beams.
Inaccuracy and sampling problems can occur when discrete grids are
used to model continuous functions. One of the inputs to the
convolution/superposition model is the TERMA distribution, or total
energy released per unit mass. To compute the dose, the dose spread
array, or kernel, is convolved with the TERMA distribution. The
TERMA must be known at all positions within the patient.
In Pinnacle3, the TERMA distribution is computed by ray tracing through
the patient model from a 2D incident energy fluence array. Pinnacle3
automatically covers the entire patient model with a grid and computes
the TERMA at each point in this grid. The resolution (voxel size) of this
grid is generally set to match the resolution of the dose grid. Thus, if a
4 mm dose grid is selected, the TERMA grid will also have 4 mm
resolution. When setting up the dose grid, an arbitrary resolution for the
TERMA grid can also be selected on the Dose Grid Definition window.
The TERMA distribution is very smooth, and this resolution is sufficient
in most cases. However, 4 mm resolution may be too coarse when buildup
dose or dose at dmax is critical. Consider a 4 MV beam with dmax at 1.2 cm
depth. In a 4 mm TERMA grid, there are only 2 or 3 voxels between the
surface and dmax. Clearly, this is a very coarse resolution if dose at dmax is
critical.
If buildup dose or dose at dmax is critical, you can increase the TERMA
grid resolution by specifying a higher resolution in the Dose Grid
definition window of Pinnacle3.
To minimize the dose uncertainties described above, please follow these
guidelines:
Do not measure output factors at dmax. Use a depth of 10 cm.
When modeling electron contamination, use a fluence grid resolution
of 0.20 cm and reduce the phantom size to 15 cm x 15 cm.
Automodeling scripts will automatically adjust the phantom size and
resolution.
In planning mode, if prescribing to dmax for a single beam, or when dose
in the buildup region is clinically relevant, reduce the dose grid voxel
size to 3 mm or lower. The TERMA grid resolution will be set to match
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the dose grid resolution.

30 Photon Beam Physics & Measured Data Requirements Pinnacle 3 Release 9

Measured data requirements for photon beams 3.2

Calibration point output factor measurement

The calibration point referred to here is the point at which absolute dose is
measured for Pinnacle3. In general, this not the same as the machine
calibration point.
The output factor calibration point must be measured at a depth beyond
the electron contamination region. A measurement depth of 10 cm is
strongly recommended.

WA R N I N G Measuring output factors at dmax (or anywhere within the electron contamination
region for the energy) may result in incorrect monitor unit calculations.

The calibration output factor measurement and the relative output factor
measurements (described in the following section) must be measured
using the same depth.
N OT E Currently, the software requires a 10 cm x 10 cm field size for calibration output
factor measurements. For fixed jaw machines, the field size is defined by the user
and corresponds to an MLC-defined field instead of a jaw-defined field.

OF Information Measurement

Dose/MU at Calibration Point (cGy/MU):

Field size (non-fixed jaw machines): 10 cm x 10 cm

Field size (fixed jaw machines): user defined (minimum 4 cm x 4 cm)

Calibration Point Depth (cm): (10 cm is strongly recommended)

Source to calibration point distance (cm):

Open field relative output factor measurements

The relative output factors are measured for a standard geometry. This
data is used along with the calibration output factor to determine the
true output factor. The true output factor is the energy fluence per
monitor unit as a function of field size. The true output factor is used to
scale the magnitude of the incident fluence.
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The relative output factor for an open field is calculated using the
equation

Dose FS
OF = ------------------
-
Dose CFS
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where DoseFS is the measured dose for the given field size and DoseCFS is the
measured dose for the calibration field.

Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Photon Beam Physics & Measured Data Requirements 31

3.2 Measured data requirements for photon beams

Required Data Description

Measurement Type Point dose measurements

Field Sizes (non-fixed jaw 2 cm x 2 cm, 5 cm x 5 cm, 10 cm x 10 cm, 20 cm x 20 cm,

machines) 30 cm x 30 cm, and 40 cm x 40 cm. Additional small field
sizes if possible. Also include the maximum field size.

Field sizes (fixed jaw 2.4 cm x 2.4 cm, 3.2 cm x 3.2 cm, 4.8 cm x 4.8 cm,
machines): 5.6 cm x 5.6 cm, 8.0 cm x 8.0 cm, 10.4 cm x 10.4 cm,
15.2 cm x 15.2 cm, and the maximum field size

Depth Same as depth used in calibration output factor

measurement (10 cm is strongly recommended).

Normalization Normalize relative to the calibration output factor.

Setup Same as that used for the absolute calibration.

Modifiers None (open field)

Beams Eye View

Largest Field Size

20cm x 20cm

10cm x 10cm
= SAD 5cm x 5cm
(e.g., 100 cm)

Water
surface

Calibration
depth

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32 Photon Beam Physics & Measured Data Requirements Pinnacle 3 Release 9

Measured data requirements for photon beams 3.2

Wedged field output factor measurements

For each wedge used with a given energy, relative output factor
measurements must be made for a range of field sizes.
The relative output factor for a wedged field is calculated using the
equation
Dose WFS
OF = -------------------
-
Dose CFS

where DoseWFS is the measured dose for the given wedged field size and
DoseCFS is the measured dose for the open calibration field. Note that the
ratio is not the wedge transmission factor because DoseCFS is the fixed open
calibration field dose.

WA R N I N G The wedge transmission factor cannot be substituted for the wedged field output
factors. Using the wedge transmission factor instead of wedged field output factors
will result in incorrect monitor unit calculations.

Required Data For Description

Each Wedge

Measurement Type Point dose measurements

Field Sizes (non-fixed jaw 2 cm x 2 cm, 5 cm x 5 cm, 10 cm x 10 cm, 20 cm x 20 cm,

machines) 30 cm x 30 cm, and largest field size possible

Field sizes (fixed jaw 2.4 cm x 2.4 cm, 3.2 cm x 3.2 cm, 4.8 cm x 4.8 cm,
machines): 5.6 cm x 5.6 cm, 8 cm x 8 cm, 10.4 cm x 10.4 cm, and
15.2 cm x 15.2 cm, and largest field size possible

Depth Same as depth used in calibration output factor

measurement (10 cm is strongly recommended).

Normalization Normalize relative to the open field calibration output

factor.

Setup Same as that used for the absolute calibration.

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Modifiers Wedge
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3.2 Measured data requirements for photon beams

= SAD
(e.g., 100 cm)

Water
surface
Calibration
depth

3.2.9 Tray factor measurements

To avoid electron contamination, you should measure tray factors at a
depth of at least 5 cm, and possibly 10 cm.

3.2.10 Requirements for dynamic wedges

If you will be using dynamic wedges, follow the guidelines below.
Measure the same dose profiles as recommended earlier in this chapter
for physical wedges, but take the measurements at different wedge
angles. At a minimum, you should take measurements at the maximum
wedge angle and an intermediate angle, such as 30 degrees.
Measure output factors for the same field sizes as recommended for the
open field earlier in this chapter. Note that the larger field sizes will be
asymmetric for dynamic wedges.
Measure output factors for dynamic wedges at the smallest and largest
wedge angles, and at a few intermediate angles such as 15, 30, and
45 degrees. The system will interpolate to intermediate wedge angles for
the OFc values.
Check as many wedge angles and jaw settings as possible to verify
absolute dosimetry and ensure confidence in the algorithm.
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Dose computation with dynamic wedges 3.3

3.2.11 Requirements for motorized wedges

If you will be using motorized wedges, follow the guidelines below.
Measure the same dose profiles and depth dose curves that are
recommended for fixed wedges. You are only required to take
measurements for the maximum motorized wedge angle.
Measure output factors for the same field sizes that are recommended
for the open field. You are only required to measure output factors for
the maximum motorized wedge angle.
Check the dose profiles and depth dose curves for as many synthesized
wedge angles as possible to verify relative dosimetry. This is done in the
Pinnacle3 planning software, not in the Photon Physics tool.
Check as many synthesized wedge angles and jaw settings as possible to
verify absolute dosimetry and ensure confidence in the algorithm.

CAUTION You should validate your beam models, particularly the output factors for
motorized wedges, by comparing Pinnacle3 calculations with measurements. Use
fields that are similar to those you are likely to treat, and use both square and
rectangular fields. Ideally, this validation should be done before you commission the
machine.

3.3 Dose computation with dynamic wedges

The Working with Machines and the Machine Database chapter
in the Pinnacle3 Physics Instructions for Use describes how to set up dynamic
wedges in the physics tool. This section describes the method the software
uses to compute 3D dose distributions from dynamic wedges produced by
Siemens and Varian linear accelerators.
In the software, relative dose modeling of dynamic wedges involves a few
basic steps:
1 The open field for the given accelerator is accurately modeled.
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2 A planar transmission filter is produced that models the primary wedge-

shaped profile of the wedge. The production of the filter is vendor-
specific.
3 The wedge-shaped profile is modified to incorporate secondary factors,
which include jaw transmission and head scatter effects. This modification
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is not vendor-specific. You can create a wedge-specific model, if necessary.

Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Photon Beam Physics & Measured Data Requirements 35

3.3 Dose computation with dynamic wedges

4 The final dose computation is performed by first multiplying the open

field incident energy fluence image by the planar transmission image prior
to the TERMA computation in the phantom patient. This process, along
with the convolution/superposition dose computation, completes the
modeling for the relative dose from a dynamic wedge.
Certain vendor-specific aspects of the software produce a planar
transmission array in the wedged direction given the desired wedge angle,
the jaw settings of the toe and heel ends of the wedge, and the position
information in the plane of the isocenter. Each vendor, whether Varian or
Siemens, produces this transmission array using its own parameters. These
vendor-specific parameters are discussed in the following sections.

3.3.1 Varian transmission array

To produce its transmission array, the Varian Enhanced Dynamic Wedge
(EDW) uses a Golden Segmented Treatment Table (STT), a
transmission table that produces a 60-degree wedge angle for a specific
energy. This table is fixed relative to the central axis of the beam.
To calculate wedge profiles for different angles associated with the same
energy, the Varian EDW employs a ratio of tangents, which is a
weighting factor used to determine the open field and the 60-degree
wedged field components of the transmission. The dose profile for a given
wedge angle can be viewed as a weighted sum of the open field and the 60-
degree wedge field. The desired wedge angle uniquely specifies the relative
weights of these fields.
The STT is Varians name for the 1D array produced for an arbitrary
wedge angle using the Golden STT and the weighting factor derived from
the ratio of tangents.
In Varians implementation, the signal detected in the monitor unit
chamber for a dynamically wedged beam at the end of the collimator
motion is equal to the signal for the open field. The final transmission
array is therefore normalized and the effective wedge factor is
incorporated into the transmission image.

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3.3.2 Siemens transmission array

The Calibration Constant and the Linear Attenuation Coefficient defined
by Siemens are parameters of the analytical function used to produce the
transmission array.
In the Siemens Virtual Wedge implementation, the signal detected in
the monitor chamber for an open field is equal to the signal detected up to
the point where the moving jaw crosses the central axis (or would cross the
central axis, if the jaw is not in the beam due to collimator asymmetry). In
this implementation, the effective wedge factor is unity and is built into
the transmission from the Siemens equations and does not require
normalization.
The Siemens dynamic wedge uses an analytical function to determine the
1D transmission array. This transmission array (unlike Varians SST) is not
fixed relative to the central axis of the beam, but instead has its fixed point
at the geometric center of the field in the wedged direction.

3.3.3 Vendor-independent effects

The vendor-specific primary transmission array is modified by the
following secondary effects, which are independent of the vendor.

Jaw transmission effect

This effect produces a slightly lower gradient in the dose profile due to the
transmission of photons through the moving jaw. When the beam is on,
there is some photon transmission through the jaws that is not accounted
for in the vendor-specific implementations.

Head scatter effect

This effect also reduces the gradient in the dose profile due to the
decreased accelerator output at the smaller field sizes during jaw motion.
When the field is small, the head scatter contribution is smaller, hence the
toe end of the wedge will receive slightly less dose than is accounted for
in the vendor-specific implementations.
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The jaw transmission and head scatter effects are both relatively small;
consequently, they are modeled by a single transmission factor that is
specific to each dynamic wedge and energy. The modulation of the
primary transmission image by this transmission factor is shown below:

T final (x,y) = T (x,y) + ( Transmission Factor ) ( T max T (x,y) )

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where T(x,y) is the vendor-specific transmission filter, and Tmax is the

maximum transmission value present in the entire filter. And
(Tmax - T(x,y)) reflects the duration that the moving jaw is covering the
point (x,y) in the incident fluence (or transmission) plane.

Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Photon Beam Physics & Measured Data Requirements 37

3.3 Dose computation with dynamic wedges

The value of the transmission factor is adjusted manually to provide the

best match to the measured dose profiles for each dynamic wedge and
energy. This value should be close to the true jaw transmission of the
particular linear accelerator.

3.3.4 Absolute dose calculation

For the calculation of absolute dose from a dynamic wedge, note that the
effective wedge factor associated with the vendor-specific delivery device
is already included in the transmission filter. The output factor (OFc)
computations are thus correcting for any differences between actual
measured output factors and the vendor-stated output factors.
The OFcs that are computed in the physics tool should therefore be
similar to the open field OFcs, and should reflect the smaller differences
between the effective wedge factors and the measured wedge factors.
The softwares monitor unit calculation uses the output factors for a subset
of wedge angles. The OFc values for a given wedge angle are linearly
interpolated. If the wedge angle specified for a given treatment is smaller
than the smallest measured wedge angle, the reported OFc will be an
interpolation between the OFc of the open field and the OFc of the
smallest measured wedged field. The software will not compute absolute
dose for wedge angles higher than the largest wedge angle for which
output factors have been computed.
For more information on computing output factors, see the How the
software uses output factors section.

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Photon model parameters 3.4

3.4 Photon model parameters

The Photon Beam Physics & Physics Utilities chapter in the
Pinnacle3 Physics Instructions for Use describes the photon beam modeling
process. Before beginning to model beams in the Photon Model Editor
window, become familiar with the photon model parameters and how
changes to those parameters affect the model. The following sections
describe the photon model parameters in detail.

3.4.1 The energy spectrum

The first step in modeling is to determine the energy spectrum for the
beam. The energy spectrum defines the relative number of photons of
each energy which are exiting the head of the linear accelerator. You use
the measured depth dose profiles to model the spectrum. In the Photon
Model Editor window, click the Depth Dose tab to access the spectrum
parameter options.

The software contains a number of published and interpolated spectra for

use as the starting point to model your beam. Generally, you should start
the modeling process with a spectrum of the same energy as your beam if
one is available. If the exact energy is not available, select the spectrum
with the nominal energy closest to but greater than your beams nominal
energy.
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When comparing the measured and computed depth dose profiles, you
will increase or decrease the relative number of photons for different
energy bins depending upon the region of the depth dose which needs to
be adjusted. The shape of the depth dose curves is most dependent upon
the relative number of mid-range and high energy photons. The specified
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energy bin must correspond to the available kernel and attenuation

coefficient energies.

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3.4 Photon model parameters

3.4.2 Electron contamination parameters

The software accounts for the electron contamination in a beam by adding
electron dose to the photon dose. It models the electron dose as a modified
exponential curve. At shallow depths the dose is linear to prevent the
electron dose from becoming too high at the surface. The shape of this
curve along the central axis depth dose is illustrated below.

Electron dose

Depth

The electron contamination parameters control the amount of electron

dose that is added, the maximum depth where the electrons have an effect,
the rate of electron dose fall-off with respect to depth, and the change in
electron contamination with field size. In the Photon Model Editor
window, click the Buildup tab and click On next to the Electron
Contamination option to turn on the electron contamination parameters.

The Max Depth parameter determines the maximum depth receiving

electron dose. The EC Surface Dose parameter determines the magnitude
of the electron surface dose.
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Electron

EC Surf
dose

Dose

Max Depth
Depth

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The Depth Coefficient determines the rate of the electron dose fall-off
with respect to depth. Increasing the Depth Coefficient increases the rate
of fall-off. For example, the figures below show a depth coefficient of
1 and 4.

Depth Coefficient = 1 Depth Coefficient = 4

The DF (Depth Fraction) and SF (Scale Fraction) parameters determine

the linear region of the curve which replaces the exponential increase in
dose near the surface. The Depth Fraction determines the depth at which
the linear region of the electron contamination ends and the exponential
fall off begins. The Scale Fraction is the fraction by which the initial
exponential electron contamination curve is adjusted to obtain the linear
start point for the curve.

Depth Effect
F FS ( fs )
----------------
SF
F FS ( fs ) e K d e K MAXD
F Depth ( d, fs ) = ---------------
- ----------------------------------------
K MAXD
-
SF 1e
F Depth ( d, fs )

F FS ( fs )

0
DF MAXD MAXD
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d (Depth) (cm)

The Off-Axis Coefficient Electron Contamination parameter accounts for

the decrease in the effects of the electron contamination as you move off-
axis. It allows you to shape the electron contamination dose magnitude.
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The software models this effect using a Gaussian curve (with radial
symmetry). When the Off-Axis Coefficient is set to 0, the Gaussian curve
is flat. As the value increases, the Gaussian curve becomes more narrow,
effectively reducing electron contamination off the central axis.

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3.4 Photon model parameters

The EC Field Size Dependence parameters (C1, C2, C3) model the change
in electron contamination as a function of field size. These changes are
generally linear for low energies with increasing curvature at higher
energies. In the software, this effect is modeled using the equation:

C 3 10 C 3 fs
F FS ( fs ) = ECD 10 10 + C 1 ( fs 10 ) + C 2 ( e e )

where
FFS = field size factor
fs = field size
ECD10x10 = Electron Contamination Surface Dose for a 10 x 10 field
C1, C2, C3 = Model parameters fitted to match the measured data
Constraints: C2 > 0

WA R N I N G C1, C2, and C3 are used to produce a function of field size. They should be the same
for each model when the models have been created for each field size.

If you have photon models that are in the same wedge group but have different
field sizes, you cannot assign different values for C1, C2, and C3. It causes problems
in the interpolation over field size for the different field-size specific models and will
prevent commissioning of the machine.

3.4.3 In Field model parameters

The flattening filter attenuation and off-axis softening are the two main
effects seen in the field. To access these parameters, click the In Field tab in
the Photon Model Editor window.

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The flattening filter attenuation has two effects in the beam:

it changes the photon fluence as a function of off-axis distance. As you
get farther from the central axis, you see an increase in the number of
photons per unit area. You can model this effect using either cone
radius or arbitrary profile.

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Photon model parameters 3.4

it changes the distribution of the photon energies as a function of off-

axis distance. The beam contains relatively more high-energy (hard)
photons near the central axis and relatively more low-energy (soft)
photons far from the central axis. You can model this effect with the
Spectral Off-Axis Softening parameter.

Arbitrary Profile model

When you select Arbitrary Profile from the Modeled As option list, the
Arbitrary Profile Editor button and the Limit Profile Edge for Auto-
Modeling by field appear on the In Field tab.
The Limit Profile Edge for Auto-Modeling by field lets you set the
boundary in the high dose region to remove data points from the
penumbra. Some profiles do not have well-defined transitions from the
high dose region to the penumbra, and the automodeler could include
data from the penumbra region of smaller profiles in the high dose region.
Profile edge limit x

Profile points
automodeled
Shoulder break point
as determined by
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3.4 Photon model parameters

Click the Arbitrary Profile Editor button to open the Edit Fluence Filter
Profile window. (This window also appears if you change the Modeled As
option from Cone to Arbitrary Profile.) A default arbitrary fluence profile
is created with 50 points. The profile is generated out to the squared sum
of the largest measurement geometry and increases at 0.6% per cm.

If the arbitrary fluence table is not as wide as the incident energy fluence,
the software extrapolates the table by extending the last value of the table
beyond the maximum position of the table itself to the edges of the
incident fluence.
Use the E_TuneAllInSections sequence to automodel the profile, or use
the Ins After, Ins Before, Delete Point, and Delete All Points buttons to
edit the profile. Arbitrary Profiles can contain from 2 to 200 points.
N OT E For each point in the profile, the radius must be 0 cm50 cm, and the incident
fluence value must be 0.51.5, or you will not be able to compute dose.

Cone model
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When you select Cone from the Modeled As option list, the Fluence
Increase/cm and Cone radius fields appear on the In Field tab. See the
Photon Beam Physics & Physics Utilities chapter in the Pinnacle3
Physics Instructions for Use for information about the cone model.

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The Spectral Off-Axis Softening parameter

The off-axis softening parameter reduces the spectrum weights as a
function of off-axis angle in this fashion:

OffAxisSofteningParam
1
W ' i = W i --------------------------
1 + ----------
Ei
E max

where
Wi = the spectral weight for bin i which has an effective energy Ei
= the off-axis angle
Emax = maximum energy in the beam spectrum
The off-axis angle is calculated in the following way:

= atan -------------------------------
OffAxisDist
SAD

where OffAxisDist is the distance from the central axis in the isocentric
plane that is orthogonal to the beam.

Wedge/Compensator Scatter Factor

For wedged fields, you may also need to adjust the Wedge/Compensator
scatter factor. The convolution algorithm models beam modifiers using
three processes: attenuation; hardening of the beam in the primary
TERMA calculation; and primary TERMA boosting to account for scatter
from the modifier. The algorithm models the third effect with the
Modifier Scatter Factor (MSF).
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The TERMA is increased under the modifier using the equation:

( r ) = ( r ) ( 1 + MSF Len ( R, mod ) MSC ( mod, SSD ) )

where
MSF = the Wedge/Compensator Scatter Factor which you must set
R = the line connecting the beam source to the point r.
mod = the beam modifier
Len (R, mod) = the length of the line R through the beam modifier
MSC = the modifier scatter capacity. The modifier scatter capacity is a
function of the modifiers ability to interact with the beam and the
modifiers ability to scatter photons into the phantom. For
compensators this function has a value very close to zero.

Beam Source Len ( R, mod )

R

mod

Beam Central Axis

Typical values for the wedge scatter factor are: 0.5 for Varian machines and
0.2 for Elekta machines with an internal wedge.

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3.4.4 Out of Field model parameters

The penumbra and tails of the profiles are modeled with the Out of Field
model parameters. To access the out of field photon model parameters,
click the Out of Field tab in the Photon Model Editor window.
N OT E The MLC transmission field only appears if the machine has an MLC.

Effective Source Size parameters

The Effective Source Size parameters model the penumbra of a beam by
blurring the incident fluence model. The shape of the blurring kernel is
modeled as a Gaussian with the FWHM (or Full Width at Half
Maximumdescribes a gaussian distribution's width) equal to the
projected effective source size.
The effective source size is scaled by (SAD - SCD)/SCD, where SCD is
the source to collimator (jaw) distance and SAD is the source to axis
distance. Note that each dimension is handled separately. This Gaussian
blurring kernel is then convolved with the incident fluence to determine
the incident fluence distribution.

SCD
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SAD - SCD
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3.4 Photon model parameters

Increasing the effective source size makes the shoulders and base of the X
and Y profiles rounder. Decreasing the effective source size makes the
shoulders and base of the X and Y profiles more square.

Use a larger effective source Use a smaller effective source

size to make the shoulders and size to make the shoulders and
base of the profiles more round. base of the profiles more square.

Flattening Filter Scatter Source parameters

In addition to changing the shape of the primary radiation, the flattening
filter acts as a source of secondary scatter radiation. The Flattening Filter
Scatter Source parameters control the model of the photon scatter from
the flattening filter. This scatter is most visible in the tails of the cross-axis
scans, but the software model takes this contribution into account across
the entire beam. The software models this photon scatter source as a
Gaussian curve.
The Gaussian Height parameter defines the fraction of the central axis
energy fluence that is due to the flattening filter scatter when the
collimator jaws are wide open.
The Gaussian Width parameter specifies the width (in centimeters) of the
Gaussian curve used to model the flattening filter scatter source. The
width is defined at the source to flattening filter distance, which is entered
in the Misc tab of the Machine Editor window. The software achieves the
modification to the incident fluence plane by back projecting through the
jaws and performing an integration based on the amount of the Gaussian
curve visible from each point in the incident fluence plane.

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Transmission Factors
The XY Jaw Transmission Equal option allows you to select if your
machine has single or multiple jaw transmission factors. The setting is
global for the machine, even though you select it for one of the models
and can change the transmission factors per model. If you select Yes, you
can enter one jaw transmission factor for both pairs of jaws. If you select
No, you can enter one transmission factor for the top/bottom pair and
another for the right/left pair. If you set MLC Replaces Jaws to Yes in the
MLC Editor, you can only set a single jaw transmission factor.
The jaw transmission factor (0.001-1.00) specifies the fraction of the
energy fluence transmitted through the jaws. This models the actual jaw
transmission.
The MLC transmission factor (0.001-0.200) specifies the fraction of the
energy fluence transmitted through the MLC leaves.
N OT E The MLC transmission field only appears if the machine has an MLC. The MLC
transmission factor cannot be edited during planning.
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3.5 Automodeling sequences

3.5 Automodeling sequences

The Photon Beam Physics & Physics Utilities chapter in the
Pinnacle3 Physics Instructions for Use describes the softwares automodeling
tool, which can optimize photon model parameters for you. When using
the automodeling tool, you must choose among a set of automodeling
sequences that optimize specific parameters of the model. This section
describes each of the automodeling sequences in detail.
A number of automodeling optimization sequences are available. These
are some of the common uses:
Several sequences allow you to tune the entire model. For example, run
the E_TuneAllInSections sequence to tune all parameters for all open
field sizes using a single model. The Tolerance Factor is reset to 1.0 at
the beginning of each modeling state.
You can also perform the automodeling in steps. Run the
FineTuneECAndSpectrum sequence to fine-tune the spectrum and
electron contamination. Run the FineTuneCrossBeam sequence to fine-
tune the cross-beam shape parameters.
All the sequences are listed below and explained in this section.
Sequences to use for all field sizes (open and/or wedge)
E_TuneAllInSections.OptSequence
FineTuneCrossBeam.OptSequence
FineTuneSpectrum.OptSequence
FineTuneECAndSpectrum.OptSequence
FineTuneECInParallel.OptSequence
FineTuneECInSections.OptSequence
FineTuneECSequentially.OptSequence
Sequences to use for models containing a wedge
FineTuneModelForOpenAndWedgedFields.OptSequence
FineTuneModifierScatter.OptSequence
Sequence to use for wedge-only models
FineTuneAllForWedge.OptSequence
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Sequences to use for field-size specific data (open or wedge)

FineTuneModelForFieldSize.OptSequence
FineTuneCrossBeam.OptSequence
FineTuneSpectrum.OptSequence

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Automodeling sequences 3.5

3.5.1 E_TuneAllInSections
This sequence currently produces the best results for tuning an entire
model. The sequence tunes the electron contamination parameters in
conjunction with the spectrum while tuning the entire model. It also
separates the X and Y focal spot size tuning and optimizes the left/right
jaw transmission, top/bottom jaw transmission, MLC transmission, and
arbitrary fluence profiles. The left/right jaw transmission optimization
only uses X profiles, while the top/bottom jaw transmission only uses Y
profiles. The MLC transmission is optimized after the jaw transmissions,
and it only uses profiles that include the MLC.
N OT E The MLC parameters Rounded Leaf Tip Radius, Tongue and groove width and
Additional interleaf leakage transmission are not included in this automodeling
sequence, but their effects are included in the dose computation.

When jaw transmissions are optimized, only the profiles in the direction of the jaws
are used. When MLC transmissions are optimized, only the profiles in the direction
of the MLC are used.

3.5.2 FineTuneCrossBeam
Use this sequence to fine-tune the cross-beam shape parameters. You can
also use this sequence to fine-tune a model copied from the model library
to your machine.
This sequence does not tune the Off-Axis Softening parameter nor the Inc
Fluence Cone Angle and Radius for small fields. These parameters should
only be tuned using large fields. Because of the relationship between cross-
beam low dose and cross-beam high dose parameters, you should not
apply this sequence to a model that does not include large and small fields.
If a single model exists for all fields, this sequence does not use the wedged
fields for optimization. However, if the model is for wedged fields, the
software uses only the corresponding wedged fields for optimization.

3.5.3 FineTuneSpectrum
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Use this sequence to fine-tune the beam spectrum. You can use this
sequence to fine-tune a model copied from the model library to your
machine.
If a single model exists for all fields, this sequence does not use the wedged
fields for optimization. However, if the model is for wedged fields, the
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software uses only the corresponding wedged fields for optimization.

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3.5 Automodeling sequences

3.5.4 FineTuneECAndSpectrum
Use this sequence to fine-tune the beam spectrum in the presence of
electron contamination, which obtains a best fit in the buildup region of
the depth dose curves while maintaining agreement at deeper depths. The
success of this sequence depends on an accurate fit of the electron
contamination for the tuning of the spectrum.
If a single model exists for all fields, this sequence does not use the wedged
fields for optimization. However, if the model is for wedged fields, the
software uses only the corresponding wedged fields for optimization.

3.5.5 FineTuneECInParallel
Use this sequence to fine-tune the electron contamination. You should use
this sequence only after the beam spectrum has been tuned.
Most of the electron contamination parameters are tuned simultaneously
for all fields corresponding to the model being tuned. The Depth
parameter is not tuned. The Off Axis Coefficient is tuned as a separate
phase from the other parameters.
If a single model exists for all fields, this sequence does not use the wedged
fields for optimization. However, if the model is for wedged fields, the
software uses only the corresponding wedged fields for optimization.

3.5.6 FineTuneECInSections
Use this sequence to fine-tune the electron contamination after the beam
spectrum has been tuned. Most of the electron contamination parameters
are tuned in sections for all fields corresponding to the model being tuned.
The Depth parameter is not tuned. The Depth Fraction and the Scale
Fraction are tuned separately. The Off Axis Coefficient is tuned as a
separate phase from the other parameters.
If a single model exists for all fields, this sequence does not use the wedged
fields for optimization. However, if the model is for wedged fields, the
software uses only the corresponding wedged fields for optimization.
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3.5.7 FineTuneECSequentially
Use this sequence to fine-tune the electron contamination. You should use
this sequence only after the beam spectrum has been tuned. The electron
contamination parameters are tuned sequentially. The optimization starts
with medium size fields and then progresses to all fields. This results in
electron contamination parameters that are biased toward the medium size
fields. The Depth parameter is not tuned. The Off Axis Coefficient is
tuned as a separate phase from the other parameters.
If a single model exists for all fields, this sequence does not use the wedged
fields for optimization. However, if the model is for wedged fields, the
software uses only the corresponding wedged fields for optimization.

3.5.8 FineTuneModelForOpenAndWedgedFields
Use this sequence to fine-tune all aspects of the model both for open fields
and wedged fields. The assumption is that you have a single model for all
fields (wedged and open), and that you have performed open field tuning.

3.5.9 FineTuneModifierScatter
Use this sequence to fine-tune all aspects of the model for the wedged
fields to which it corresponds. The assumption is that you have copied this
model from the model library or from the open field model, and that you
need to fine-tune it to fit the wedged fields.

3.5.10 FineTuneAllForWedge
Use this sequence to fine-tune all aspects of the model for the wedged
fields to which it corresponds, including left/right jaw transmission,
top/bottom jaw transmission, MLC transmission, and arbitrary fluence.
The assumption is that you have copied this model from the model library
or from the open field model, and that you need to fine-tune it to fit the
wedged fields.
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N OT E The MLC parameters Rounded Leaf Tip Radius and Tongue and groove width are
not included in this automodeling sequence, but their effects are included in the
dose computation.
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3.6 Photon beam output factor computation

3.5.11 FineTuneModelForFieldSize
Use this sequence to fine-tune a model for the currently selected field size.
The assumption is that you have copied this model from the model
library, or preferably from the open field model, and that you need to fine-
tune it.
This sequence does not tune the cross-beam parameters, as these must be
tuned with consideration for large fields. This sequence also does not tune
the modifier scatter parameter.

WA R N I N G C1, C2, and C3 are used to produce a function of field size. They should be the same
for each model when the models have been created for each field size.

If you have photon models that are in the same wedge group but have different
field sizes, you cannot assign different values for C1, C2, and C3. It causes problems
in the interpolation over field size for the different field-size specific models and will
prevent commissioning of the machine.

3.6 Photon beam output factor computation

The Photon Beam Physics & Physics Utilities chapter in the
Pinnacle3 Physics Instructions for Use describes how to compute the output
factors for photon beams. Before computing output factors, you might
want to read the following sections that explain how the software uses
output factors and handles head scatter.

3.6.1 How the software uses output factors

To produce the correct dose, the software multiplies the standard incident
energy fluence image by a correction factor (OFc) before performing the
convolution. Consequently, the resulting dose distribution represents
cGy/MU. Next, the software uses the weighting of the beam and the
prescription to determine the final MU. Therefore, the incident energy
fluence image scaled by OFc represents the true energy fluence/MU exiting
the accelerator.
To determine the OFc, the software first calculates the absolute calibration
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for the 10 cm x 10 cm reference field (or for fixed jaw machines, the field
defined by the user). It computes dose to the calibration point and
compares the dose to the user-supplied calibrated output. Then the
software corrects the ratio of measured and computed data using the
incident energy fluence. This absolute calibration factor is used for every
field size when creating the incident energy fluence image.
The next step is to determine the field-size dependent correction factors.
(The OFcs are relative to the 10 cm x 10 cm reference, or for fixed jaw
machines, the field defined by the user.) First, the software computes OFp,

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Photon beam output factor computation 3.6

which is the ratio of the computed dose for the specified field over the
reference field using the convolution/superposition dose model with only
the 10 cm x 10 cm absolute calibration applied, or for fixed jaw machines,
the field defined by the user. With the measured OF and the computed
OFp, we can deduce that OFc = OF/OFp. This computation is made for
every measured relative output factor and is tabulated per field size and
plotted in the Photon Output Factor Computation window. In Planning
mode the OFc is interpolated via equivalent squares. For non-fixed jaw
machines, the equivalent square is computed using the jaw-defined field,
and for fixed jaw machines it is computed using the minimum
circumscribing rectangle surrounding the MLC-defined field.
The final incident energy fluence for each beam is therefore the product of
the fluence from the standard head model, the absolute calibration factor,
and the field-size dependent OFc.

CAUTION When modeling, you want to achieve uniformity of the OFc among the various field
sizes. You can adjust the Gaussian flattening filter scatter source to obtain this
uniformity. For more details on the Gaussian function, see the next section.

Head scatter and output factors

The absorbed dose from a photon beam is proportional to the energy
fluence reaching the patient. Fluence is composed of both primary and
scattered photons. The scattered component, principally originating from
the flattening filter and primary collimator, is commonly called head
scatter, extra-focal radiation, or collimator scatter. For accurate dose
calculations, it is important to model the head scatter component of the
dose correctly.
The softwares automodeling tool calculates the head scatter emanating
from an scatter source located at the level of the flattening filter. This
source distribution is modeled by a 2D Gaussian function. The software
determines the amount of head-scattered radiation reaching any point in
the incident fluence plane by integrating over the region of the source
visible from the calculation point. For machines where the MLC replaces
one of the jaws or beams where the MLC is on, the visible region of the
source is defined by the MLC. If the MLC does not replace the jaw, the
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visible region of the source can be either the MLC or the jawwhichever
device produces the smallest visible region.
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flattening filter
scatter source distribution

flattening filter

head scatter

N OT E The primary fluence plus the head scatter representation (the Gaussian integral) is
the final incident fluence. The Gaussian flattening filter scatter source distribution
is defined at the source-to-flattening-filter distance. The cone radius is defined at
the isocenter plane.

The output factors (OFc) computed in the current version of the software
represent the head scatter that is not already included in the photon
model. If all head scatter effects have been incorporated into the model,
OFc should be 1.00 for all field sizes. In practice, there may be a slight
increase in computed OFc values with increasing field size, although it is
not unreasonable to see small decreases if the Gaussian scatter source
slightly overestimates the amount of scatter generated by the flattening
filter.
Because the softwares computed OFc values reflect only the head scatter
effects not included in the new model, they differ from the traditional
Collimator Scatter Factors (Sc).

3.6.2 Why the softwares scatter factors cannot be measured

Some users have questioned why their measured scatter factors (Sc) differ
from the softwares calculations of OFc. The reason is simple: their
definitions are different. A user begins by defining Sc as a measured
quantity, whereas the software starts with the assumption that OFc will be
determined so as to ensure consistent results in determining absolute dose.
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The OFc reported by the software is calculated as shown:

OF c = ( OF ) ( OF p )

where OF is the user-measured relative output factor and OFp is the

calculated output factor, which includes the head scatter model in the
incident fluence and phantom scatter from the superposition.

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The convolution dose algorithm properly models phantom scatter by

design. The superposition of the dose-spread kernel and the TERMA
distribution intrinsically model the scattered radiation generated in the
patient volume. OFp can be determined directly from the integrated dose.
In practice, we set the scaling of the incident fluence (which includes the
Gaussian head scatter model) to be constant, then extract a relative OFp
(for field i relative to field ref ) by computing the dose with the
superposition:

D ( i ) OF c = 1
OF p ( i ) = -------------------------
D ( ref )

We now consider that the convolution operation is linear, meaning that

scaling the number of photons in the incident fluence is the same as
scaling the dose:

D OFc ( i ) ( i ) = D OF c = 1 ( i ) OF c ( i )

DOFc(i)(i) is the final dose calculation when the proper OFc is used for the
given field size, and is synonymous with D(i).
Using the previous equations in this section, and realizing that by
definition

OF c ( ref ) = OF p ( ref ) = 1

we can verify that this approach is coherent and consistent.

D( i)- = D ( i ) OFC = 1 ( i ) OF c ( i ) OF p ( i ) D ( ref ) OF C = 1 ( i ) OF c ( i )

OF ( i ) = --------------- - = ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ = OF p ( i ) OF c ( i )
-------------------------------------------------------
D ( ref ) D ( ref ) OFC = 1 ( i ) D ( ref ) OFC = 1 ( i )

This equation matches the first equation in this section.

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3.7 References and recommended reading

3.7 References and recommended reading

Ahnesjo, A. 1994. Analytic modeling of photon scatter from flattening
filters in photon therapy beams. Medical Physics 21(8):1227-1235.
Ahnesjo, A. 1989. Collapsed cone convolution of radiant energy for
photon dose calculation in heterogeneous media. Medical Physics
16(4):577-592.
Battista, J.J and M.B. Sharpe. 1992. True three-dimensional dose
computations for megavoltage x-ray therapy: A role for the superposition
principle. Australasian Physical & Engineering Sciences in Medicine
15(4):159-178.
Graves M., A. Thompson, M. Martel, D. McShan, and B. Fraass. 2001.
Calibration and Quality Assurance for Rounded Leaf-end MLC Systems,
Medical Physics 28:2267-2232.
Khan, F.M. 1994. The Physics of Radiation Therapy, 2nd ed. Maryland:
Williams and Wilkins.
Mackie, T.R., J.W. Scrimger, and J.J Battista. 1985. A convolution
method of calculating dose for 15-MV x rays. Medical Physics
12(2):188-196.
Mackie, T.R., A.F. Bielajew, D.W.O. Rogers and J.J. Battista. 1988.
Generation of photon energy deposition kernels using the EGS Monte
Carlo code. Phys. Med. Biol. 33(1):1-20.
Mackie, T.R., P.J. Reckwerdt, M.A. Gehring, T.W. Holmes, S.S. Kubsad,
B.R. Thomadsen, C.L. Sanders, B.R. Paliwal, and T.J. Kinsella. 1990.
Clinical implementation of the convolution/superposition method.
Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on the Use of Computers in
Radiation Therapy. Council of Science and Technology, Bombay, India,
1990.
Mohan, R. and C. Chui. 1985. Energy and angler distributions of
photons from medical linear accelerators. Medical Physics 12(5):592-597.
Papanikolaou, N., T.R. Mackie, C. Meger-Wells, M. Gehring and P.
Reckwerdt. 1993. Investigation of the convolution method for
polyenergetic spectra. Medical Physics 20(5):1327-1336.
Van Dyk, J., R.B. Barnett, J.E. Cygler, and P.C. Shragge. 1993.
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Commissioning and quality assurance of treatment planning computers.

International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics
26(2):261-273.
Wong, J.W. and J.A. Purdy. 1990. On methods of inhomogeneity
corrections for photon transport. Medical Physics 17(5):807-814.

58 Photon Beam Physics & Measured Data Requirements Pinnacle 3 Release 9

4 Electron Physics & Data Requirements

WA R N I N G The accuracy of the treatment planning dose calculation depends on the quality of
the data entered in the physics tool. If the quality of this data is poor, or if the
computed dose is not verified with measured data, the dose calculation may be
inaccurate.

4.1 Required electron physics data

The following measured data is required for electron beam modeling.

4.1.1 Physical machine measurements

You need to measure the drift distance (in centimeters) between the
collimator and the surface of the phantom for the standard setup
(nominal) SSD.

4.1.2 Depth dose measurements

Depth dose measurements must be taken for each energy at several square
field sizes as recommended in the Depth dose measurements for
dose normalization section. The depth dose measurements are used to
determine the practical range of electrons (Rp) and are also used for depth
normalization of the dose.
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4.1 Required electron physics data

Depth dose measurement for determining Rp

Because many of the dose profile measurements are measured at depths
related to the practical range of electrons (Rp), you should determine Rp for
the energy before measuring any other data. You must determine Rp for the
selected energy before measuring the cross-axis dose profiles.

Required Data Description

for Each Energy

Measurement Type Open-field central axis depth dose

Cone Sizes Largest available cone size

Setup Water surface at isocenter. SSD equal to SAD.

= SAD
(e.g., 100 cm)

Water
surface

Central axis
depth dose

As defined by Khan, the practical range is the depth of the point where
the tangent to the descending linear portion of the curve (at the point of
inflection) intersects the extrapolated background, as shown in the
illustration below.
Relative Depth Dose

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Depth (cm) Rp

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Required electron physics data 4.1

The practical range of electrons should be determined using the depth

dose for the largest cone size measured for the energy. For a detailed
description of the energy determination process, refer to the AAPM TG25
report on clinical electron-beam dosimetry.

Depth dose measurements for dose normalization

For each energy, the central-axis depth dose should be measured for a
range of square field sizes. Each field size should be made as a cutout. This
data is used to normalize the dose at varying depths.
The field sizes are independent of the cones used, but for each particular
field size we recommend using the cone that you would use clinically.

Required Data Description

for Each Energy

Measurement Type Open-field central axis depth dose

Square Field Sizes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 15, 20, 25, or open cone field size (in cm)

Measurement Limits Measure to a depth of Rp + 5 cm

Setup Water surface at isocenter. SSD equal to SAD.

= SAD
(e.g., 100 cm)

Water
surface

Central axis
depth dose
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4.1 Required electron physics data

4.1.3 In-air cross-axis dose profile measurements

Cross-axis dose profiles must be measured in air for the determination of
the virtual source distance and sigma-theta-x. These profiles do not need
to be imported into the Electron Physics tool.
For the largest field size (20 cm x 20 cm or the largest field size closest to
20 cm x 20 cm), measure either X or Y cross-axis profiles in air using high
spatial resolution. Profiles should be obtained at equally spaced distances
beyond the nominal SSD (i.e., for a 100 cm SAD machine, measure
profiles at 100 cm, 105 cm, 110 cm, 115 cm and 120 cm source to probe
distances).

Required Data Description

Measurement Type Open-field orthogonal (horizontal or vertical) dose profiles in

air through the central axis.

Cone Sizes 20 cm x 20 cm or the largest field size.

Source to chamber Equally spaced distances beyond the nominal SSD (i.e., for a
distances 100 cm SAD machine, measure at 100 cm, 105 cm, 110 cm,
115 cm, and 120 cm source to probe distances)

Resolution 1 mm spacing

Measurement Limits Measurements should extend as far outside the field boundary
as possible

x = SAD (e.g., 100 cm)

= SAD + 5 cm
= SAD + 10 cm
= SAD + 15 cm
= SAD + 20 cm
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Required electron physics data 4.1

Determining the virtual source to surface distance

Unlike x-ray beams, electron beams do not emanate from a physical source
in the accelerator. Instead the electron beam is spread by the scattering
foils into a broad beam that appears to diverge from a point. This point is
referred to as the virtual source. The position of the virtual source can be
found by back projection of the 50% width of the beam profiles obtained
at different source to chamber distances.

To determine the position of the virtual SSD, plot the beam width at the
50% dose positions (FWHM) versus the source to chamber distance for
the in-air cross-axis profiles. Project the best fit line to the width of zero
(FWHM = 0) and record the source to chamber distance. Then subtract
the source to chamber distance from the calibration setup SSD to obtain
the virtual SSD. For example, for the plot shown below, the virtual SSD
would be approximately 90.1 cm. You must calculate the virtual SSD for
each electron energy that you commission.

25



20
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FWHM (cm)

15

10
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0
0 25 50 75 100 125

Source to chamber distance (cm)

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4.1 Required electron physics data

Determining Sigma-Theta-X
This parameter characterizes the angular scattering of electrons in air.
Sigma-theta-x can be calculated from the 80% - 20% penumbra width as
described by Hogstrom (1981, 1987). Plot the 80% - 20% penumbra
width in air versus the isocenter to chamber distance (ICD) for a large
field.

2.0

80% - 20% Penumbra (cm)

+
1.5
+
+
1.0
+
0.5 +

0.0
-10 -5 0 5 10 15 20

Isocenter to chamber distance (cm)

Determine the slope of this plot and use it in the following equation to
calculate sigma-theta-x.

x = 0.595 slope
80% - 20%

For example, for the plot above the slope is equal to

1.75 0.5
------------------------ = 0.0625
20 0

so

x = 0.0372
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0.0372 is the product of 0.595 and 0.0625.

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Required electron physics data 4.1

4.1.4 Dose measurements in water

For each energy and field size, a PDD and a number of cross-axis dose
profiles must also be measured in water. These scans are used to determine
the photon contamination dose and for tuning the off-axis ratios and the
water scatter correction factor. Select a detector that adequately resolves
the edge of the electron dose distribution in order to accurately model the
rapid fall-off in this region.

Required cross-axis dose profiles

For the determination of the photon contamination dose of the electron
beam, you must measure the X cross-beam profiles in water at a depth of
Rp + 2 cm for each energy and field size. We recommend that you use field
sizes of 2 cm, 3 cm, 4 cm, 6 cm, 8 cm, 10 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm, and 25 cm
and your maximum field size.
These profiles must be measured in order to model the electron beam.
To adjust the off-axis ratios, you must obtain an X and Y cross-beam
profile at (1/2) R90 (one-half the depth of the second occurrence of the
90% dose along the central-axis depth dose) for each energy and field size.
To tune the water scatter correction factor (FMCS), you must measure
cross-beam profiles at depths of R90, R70, and R50 for each energy and cone
size.
For quality assurance, you can gather the data described above at extended
SSDs (i.e., 105, 110, 115, and 120) and check the fit in the penumbra for
these profiles. Use this data to compare plan profiles; do not use the data
for modeling.

Required Data Description

Measurement Type Open-field orthogonal (horizontal and vertical) dose profiles

in water through the central axis.

Field/Cone Sizes 2 cm, 3 cm, 4 cm, 6 cm, 8 cm, 10 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm, and 25 cm
and your maximum field size.

Depths PDD, R90/2, R90, R70, R50, and Rp + 2 cm

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Measurement Limits Measurements should extend as far outside the field boundary
as possible.

Setup Water surface at SSD = SAD

N OT E You do not need to measure these field sizes in each cone. You only need to
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measure them in a clinically relevant cone, for example 2 cm, 3 cm, 4 cm, and 6 cm
in a 6 cm x 6 cm cone, 8 cm and 10 cm in a 10 cm x 10 cm cone, and then the open
15 cm, 20 cm, and 25 cm cones.

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4.1 Required electron physics data

= SAD

(e.g., 100 cm)

Water
surface
x
y

4.1.5 Cutout material transmission factor measurement

For each energy, you will need to determine the photon dose that is
transmitted through the cutout material so that the dose contribution
from contamination photons can be accounted for in the dose
computations. The dose at Rp + 2 cm is considered to be due only to
photon contamination. Therefore, measurements for photon transmission
through the cutout material should be made at this depth.
Measure the dose at a depth of Rp + 2 cm for a 10 cm x 10 cm open field
and, at the same depth, measure the dose for a completely blocked
10 cm x 10 cm field. The ratio of these two measurements is the cutout
material photon transmission factor.
Dose Rp + 2cm blocked field
Cutout material transmission factor = ------------------------------------------------------
-
Dose Rp + 2cm open field

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Required electron physics data 4.1

4.1.6 Output factor measurements

We recommend that you measure output factors at dmax for your clinical
range of SSDs starting with the first SSD and in 5 cm increments for each
cone size at exposed field sizes of 2 cm, 3 cm, 4 cm, 6 cm, 8 cm, 10 cm,
and your maximum field size with a maximum field size for each cone
being the cone size. Each field size must be made as a cutout.
If your clinical range of SSDs is 100-120, you would measure output
factors at 100, 105, 110, 115, and 120 SSD. And, for a cone size of 6 cm,
you would measure the output factor at all the SSDs for field sizes of 2 cm,
3 cm, 4 cm, and 6 cm. So, for the 2 cm and 3 cm cone sizes you would
obtain ten output factor measurements.

Cone Size Field Size SSD

100 cm

105 cm

2 cm 110 cm

115 cm

120 cm
6 cm
100 cm

105 cm

3 cm 110 cm

115 cm

120 cm

All output factors are relative to the open 10 cm x 10 cm field at 100 SSD
and are measured at dmax. Monitor units will not be available outside of the
range of measurements. See the Electron Physics & Physics Utilities
chapter of the Pinnacle3 Physics Instructions for Use for more information.
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4.2 Electron beam data modeling

4.2 Electron beam data modeling

The Electron Physics & Physics Utilities chapter in the Pinnacle3
Physics Instructions for Use describes the Electron Physics tool and the
electron dose algorithm that it uses. This section provides information
about electron beam data modeling.

4.2.1 Adjusting computed profiles

When modeling an electron energy, you enter parameter information and
compute profiles as described in the Electron Physics & Physics
Utilities chapter in the Pinnacle3 Physics Instructions for Use. After you
have computed profiles for all available measurement geometries, use the
following steps to assess and adjust the profiles accordingly in the Machine
Electron Model window.
1 Compare the measured and computed depth dose curves. If the curves do
not match well, re-examine the plot from which you determined the
practical range of electrons (Rp). Errors in the computed percent depth
dose curves indicate that incident energy and the photon contamination
depth may be incorrect. Make any necessary corrections and recompute all
profiles.
2 Compare the X and Y profiles measured and computed at a depth of R90/2
to determine whether the off-axis ratios need to be adjusted. To see the
profiles in more detail, click the Detail button in the Machine Electron
Model window. If the profiles do not match well, you must adjust the off-
axis ratios for the cone size.
N OT E Do not use profiles at depths other than R90/2 to tune the off-axis ratios. Doing so
may cause erroneous results.

3 Using the worksheet entitled Electron beam measured data

worksheet 5 in the Physics Data Worksheets chapter, record the
off-axis ratios for points in the shoulders of the profile where the measured
and computed profiles do not match well. Record all off-axis ratios for all
cone sizes.
4 Enter the off-axis ratios in the Cone X Ratio and Y Ratio tables for all
square field sizes for which you have measured data. You must enter the
points in the same order in both tables.
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5 Compute the profiles again to verify that the changes to the off-axis ratios
improved the fit between the measured and computed profiles.
If the profiles still do not match well, repeat step 2. For each point that
needs to be changed, multiply the new off-axis ratio by the previous one
and enter the value in the off-axis ratio table. Continue to make
adjustments until you obtain a good fit between the measured and
computed profiles.

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Electron beam data modeling 4.2

6 After adjusting all the other parameters, you can tune the FMCS
parameter. Watch the penumbra region of cross-beam profiles at depths
greater than R90 for the goodness of fit between the measured and
computed profiles. Typically the FMCS ranges from 1.2 to 1.4. If you
need to exceed 1.4 to obtain a good fit, something else is wrong with the
model.
7 When you finish, return to the Electron Physics Tool window and click
the Save All Machines button to save the computed dose lookup tables.

4.2.2 Guidelines for tuning the off-axis ratios

Use the off-axis ratios to shape the shoulders of the computed profiles to
account for beam asymmetries.

Compare the match

between the profiles
in this region.

CAUTION When tuning the off-axis ratios, do not extend your corrections into the high dose
gradient region. Doing so within this region could cause dose artifacts for the
interpolated field sizes.

To determine how to adjust the off-axis ratios (OAR), first compute the
profile at R90/2 with off-axis ratios of 1.0 at x = -30, 0, and 30. X defines
the off-axis distance. Then, in regions of the profile where the measured
and computed profiles do not match well, calculate the off-axis ratios for a
number of points using the following equation.
Measured ( x )
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OAR ( x ) = -------------------------------
-
Computed ( x )
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4.2 Electron beam data modeling

The following example shows the measured and computed profile for a
10 cm cone.

In this profile, the regions from -5.0 to -3.0 and from 3.0 to 5.0 have the
most error between the measured and computed profiles. By determining
the ratios of the measured values to the computed values at a number of
points in these regions and entering the ratios in the Off-Axis Ratio table,
you can reshape the computed profile to correct the errors. Enter points at
the edges of these regions in the table with Off-Axis Ratios of 1.0.
To correct the profile in the previous example, the following Off-Axis
Ratio was entered.

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Electron beam data modeling 4.2

The resulting computed profile is shown below.

You can use Electron beam measured data worksheet 5 in the

Physics Data Worksheets chapter to record the X and Y off-axis
ratios that should be used for each cone size.
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4.3 Electron beam output correction factor

4.3 Electron beam output correction factor

The Electron Physics & Physics Utilities chapter in the Pinnacle3
Physics Instructions for Use describes how to enter output factors for
electron beams. This section provides details about the output correction
factor for electron beams.

4.3.1 Determination of scaling factor OFc

Some effects are not accounted for in the pencil beam algorithm,
including the difference in the jaw settings between cone sizes as well as
the effect of electrons scattered off the cutout defining the field shape. In
the method described below, these effects are included in the correction
factor (OFc). The OFc depends on the cone selection, the field shape, and
the SSD used in the dose computation. The OFc for a specific beam is
multiplied by the raw pencil beam computation to convert the relative
dose distribution to dose per monitor unit.
First determine the calibration constant (Acal) to obtain the dose per
monitor unit delivered for the reference beam.

OF cal = A cal D pb ( 10 10, 10 10, 100, d max )

OF cal
A cal = ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
D pb ( 10 10, 10 10, 100, d max )

where
OFcal = the measured output factor for the calibration condition, and
Dpb(cone size, cutout size, SSD, depth) = the value computed by the
pencil beam algorithm in a flat water phantom along the central axis of
the beam.
Next tabulate the correction factors for a range of square field sizes and
SSD. These correction factors (OFc) relate the pencil beam dose computed
for square fields back to the calibration condition:

OF p ( Cone, W, SSD, d max ) = A cal D pb ( Cone, W, SSD, d max )

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OF rel ( Cone, W, SSD, d max )

OF c ( Cone, W, SSD ) = -------------------------------------------------------------------
-
OF p ( Cone, W, SSD, d max )

where
OFrel = the measured output factor relative to the calibration condition
for the particular square field of interest (W).

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Electron beam output correction factor 4.3

Then for any square field (W), cone, and SSD, by applying the correction
factors you can compute the actual dose per monitor unit within the dose
volume obtained by the pencil beam algorithm.
D
----------------- = OF c A cal D pb ( r )
MU ( r )

If the pencil beam computation were perfect, the OFc value would be
constant over all SSD and field sizes. We know that the accelerator output
changes with jaw settings, and each electron cone uses different jaw
settings; therefore, we can reasonably expect the OFc to be dependent on
the electron cone selection.
In the planning tool, the pencil beam algorithm is scaled by the OFc to
obtain the dose per monitor unit in the beams dose grid.

4.3.2 Scaling final dose by OFc for arbitrary field

The dose per monitor unit for an arbitrary field is determined using the
following equation.
D
----------------- = OF c A cal D pb ( r )
MU ( r )

The OFc is tabulated for each cone at discrete SSDs, and linearly
interpolated over SSD to determine the appropriate value for any
intermediate SSD. Linear interpolation is used because the inverse square
effects are incorporated into the pencil beam algorithm and are accounted
for in the OFp value.
The OFc is also tabulated for a discrete set of square field sizes. The OFc
value for rectangular fields is found by combining the OFc values for the
square fields matching the size of the rectangular field edges through the
square root relationship described in Khan and TG25 (6,7).

OF c ( X, Y ) = OF c ( X, X ) OF c ( Y, Y )
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4.3 Electron beam output correction factor

For irregular field shapes, the minimum area circumscribing rectangle is

calculated by rotating a rectangle around the field shape and finding the
rotation that provides the minimum area. The OFc is determined the same
way as above, but using the circumscribing rectangular size. For most
clinical shapes this is sufficient, however, complicated shapes (severe or
multiple protrusions) present some difficulty due to the relative amount of
unexposed area within the minimum circumscribing rectangle.

Minimum area
circumscribing
rectangle

Field shape

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References and recommended reading 4.4

4.4 References and recommended reading

Hogstrom, K.R, M.D. Mills, and P.R. Almond. 1981. Electron beam dose
calculations. Physics of Medicine and Biology 26:445-459.
Hogstrom, K.R., M.D. Mills, J.A. Meyer, J.R. Palta, D.E. Mellenberg,
R.T. Meoz, and R.S. Fields. 1984. Dosimetric evaluation of a pencil-beam
algorithm for electrons employing a two-dimensional heterogeneity
correction. International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics
10:561-569.
Hogstrom, K.R. 1987. Evaluation of electron pencil beam dose
calculation. Radiation Oncology Physics 1986 (AAPM Monograph 15) ed.
J.G. Kereiakes, H.R. Elson, and C.G. Born. New York: American Institute
of Physics. 532-557.
Khan, F.M. 1994. The Physics of Radiation Therapy. Williams & Wilkins,
Baltimore, Maryland. 346-417.
Khan, F.M., K.P. Doppke, K.R. Hogstrom, G.J. Kutcher, R. Nath, S.C.
Prasad, J.A. Purdy, M. Rozenfeld, and B.L. Werner. 1991. Clinical
electron-beam dosimetry: Report of AAPM Radiation Therapy
Committee Task Group No. 25. Medical Physics 18:73-107.
McNutt, T.R. and W.A. Tom. 2002. A method of scaling the 3D electron
pencil-beam dose calculation to obtain accurate monitor units for
irregularly-shaped electron beams. Medical Dosimetry 27:209-213.
Shiu, A.S. 1991. Electron Parameters and Beam Data for MDACC Pencil-
Beam Algorithms. Unpublished manuscript.
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4.4 References and recommended reading

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5 Stereotactic Radiosurgery Physics &
Data Requirements

This section describes the stereotactic radiosurgery dose calculation

algorithm and covers the measured data required for stereotactic
radiosurgery.

WA R N I N G The accuracy of the treatment planning dose calculation depends on the quality of
the data entered in the physics tool. If the quality of this data is poor, or if the
computed dose is not verified with measured data, the dose calculation may be
inaccurate.

5.1 Stereotactic radiosurgery dose calculation

The Pinnacle3 stereotactic radiosurgery dose algorithm computes the dose
to the target based on interpolation of absorbed dose as measured in water
(referred to as pencil beams) for all stereotactic collimator sizes.
The algorithm is very efficient in computing dose from a large number of
pencil beams because interpolating dose values from a table is significantly
faster than computing each pencil beam from first principles. The patients
head is assumed to be convex and homogeneous. This assumption is rarely
violated since the cranium is largely spherical and uniform in its
attenuating properties with respect to megavoltage photons.

5.1.1 The pencil beam dose algorithm

The fundamental stereotactic dose computation involves determining the
dose per monitor unit D/MU (SSD, d, r, Wc) at a point from one of the
stereotactic pencil beams that make up an arc:
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D D penc ( SSD, d, r, W c )
---------- ( SSD, d, r, W c ) = --------------------------------------------------------------------
- TAR ( d iso, W c ) d I ( W c )
MU D penc ( SSD, d iso, ( r = 0 ), W c )
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where:
Dpenc(SSD, d, r, Wc) is the stored pencil beam dose distribution in water
at SSD, depth d and position r for a collimator of size Wc as measured at
the isocenter,

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5.1 Stereotactic radiosurgery dose calculation

Dpenc (SSD, diso, r = 0, Wc) is the stored pencil beam dose distribution in
water at SSD, at isocenter on the central axis for a collimator of size Wc
as measured at the isocenter, where the isocenter is at depth diso from the
patient surface,
TAR(diso, Wc) is the tissue-air-ratio at the isocenter,
dI (Wc) is the dose per monitor unit to a small mass of tissue in air at the
isocenter.
Dpenc(SSD, d, r, Wc) is the product of the fractional depth dose
FDD(SSD, d, Wc) and the off-axis factor OAF(SSD, d, r, Wc).
The above equation can then be expressed in terms of more standard
dosimetric quantities:

D FDD (SDD,d, W c) OAF (SSD,d, r, W c)

---------- (SSD,d, r, W c) = ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- TAR ( (d iso,W c) d I ( W c ) )
MU FDD (SSD,d iso, W c)

where:
FDD(SSD, d, Wc) is the fractional depth dose at SSD and depth d for a
collimator of size Wc as measured at the isocenter:

D (SSD,d, r = 0, W c)
FDD (SSD,d, W c) = -----------------------------------------------------
-
D (SSD,d max, r = 0, W c)

OAF(SSD, d, r, Wc) is the off-axis factor and is the dose profile of a beam
with a given SSD at a given depth normalized to the value at the central
axis:

D (SSD,d, r, W c)
OAF (SSD,d, r, W c) = ----------------------------------------------
D (SSD,d, r = 0, W c)

TAR(diso, Wc) is the tissue-air-ratio at the isocenter:

D ( d iso, W c )
TAR ( d iso, W c ) = --------------------------
-
D air ( W c )
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Small field tissue-air-ratios can be computed using measured

fractional depth dose FDD(SSD, diso, Wc) and small-field back scatter
factors BSF(Wc):

SDD + d iso 2
TAR (d iso,W c) = FDD (SSD,d iso, W c) BSF ( W c ) ----------------------------
-
SDD + d max

where dmax is the depth of maximum dose along the central axis.

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Measured data requirements for stereotactic radiosurgery beams 5.2

In this equation, the BSF is expressed as a function of Wc, the field

size at the depth of the isocenter. This differs from other common
BSF definitions such as the BSF with the field size at the surface of
the phantom (Khan) or at the depth of maximum dose (Johns).
dI(Wc) is the dose per monitor unit to a small mass of tissue in air at the
isocenter and is determined by:

BSF ( 10 10 ) D air
d I ( W c ) = OF ( W c ) --------------------------------- ---------
- ( 10 10 )
BSF ( W c ) MU

where the relative output factor OF(Wc) is given by:

D (d max,W c)
OF ( W c ) = --------------------------------------
D (d max,10 10)

5.2 Measured data requirements for stereotactic

radiosurgery beams
The stereotactic radiosurgery dose model is based on interpolating dose
from stored tabular circular field dose distributions measured in water.
The measurements described in the following sections are required for
each machine, energy and circular collimator size.

WA R N I N G In order to correctly generate the tabular dose data, the depth dose and cross-axis
measured data profiles must contain one and only one dose value for each position
coordinate. In addition, all depth/distance coordinates in the profiles must increase
or decrease monotonically.
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Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Stereotactic Radiosurgery Physics & Data Requirements 79

5.2 Measured data requirements for stereotactic radiosurgery beams

5.2.1 Depth dose measurements

For every collimator used with a given beam energy, you must measure
two depth dose curves: one with an SSD of 80 cm and one with an SSD of
100 cm. These depth dose curves will be used to generate the stereotactic
radiosurgery dose lookup tables. Additional measurement geometries may
be measured, imported into the Stereotactic Radiosurgery Physics tool and
compared to the computed profiles for quality assurance purposes.
However, only profiles measured at 80 cm SSD and 100 cm SSD will be
used to generate the dose lookup tables.

WA R N I N G The depth dose data is assumed to have a depth value that is a positive measure of
distance from the surface of the water. For example, a measurement taken at one
centimeter below the surface of the water is assumed to have a depth of 1.0 and not
-1.0. Do not enter depth dose data with negative depth coordinates or you will get
erroneous results.

Required Measured Data for a Given Energy and Collimator Size

Measurement Type Central axis depth dose

Measurement Limits 0 to 30 cm

Resolution 0.20 cm increments (minimum)

Setup SSD = 80 cm and SSD = 100 cm

Modifiers None (open field)

Total Measurements Two (2) depth dose curves

SSD = 100 cm SSD = 80 cm

Water Central axis Water

surface depth dose surface
Central axis
with 0.20 cm
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depth dose
resolution
with 0.20 cm
resolution

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Measured data requirements for stereotactic radiosurgery beams 5.2

5.2.2 Cross-beam dose profiles

For each energy and collimator size, you must measure cross-beam profiles
at 1 cm, 5 cm, 10 cm, 20 cm and 25 cm depths using both 80 cm and
100 cm SSDs. The resolution for the cross-beam profiles should be at least
0.20 cm. For smaller collimator sizes (less than 2 cm collimator diameter)
a higher resolution should be used.

Required Measured Data for a Given Energy and Collimator Size

Measurement Type Cross-beam profiles

Depth 1, 5, 10, 20 and 25 cm

Resolution 0.20 cm or higher

Setup SSD = 80 cm and SSD = 100 cm

Modifiers None (open field)

Total Measurements Ten (10) profiles (5 for each SSD)

5.2.3 Stereotactic radiosurgery output factors

A tissue-air-ratio type of formula is used in the stereotactic dose per
monitor unit calculation. (TMR can also be used, as described in the
following section.)

Measurement depth for all measurements

The reference field measurements should be taken isocentrically. So, the
Source to Surface Distance (SSD) should be equal to the Source to Axis
Distance (SAD) minus the depth of maximum dose for the 10 x 10 field.
SSD = SAD - dmax(10 x 10)
The Source to Calibration point Distance (SCD) should be equal to the
Source to Axis Distance (SAD).
SCD = SAD
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SAD = SCD SSD

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dmax (10 x 10)

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5.2 Measured data requirements for stereotactic radiosurgery beams

Reference field measurement

Dair/MU (10 x 10)Dose per monitor unit to a small mass of tissue in air
at isocenter for the 10 cm x 10 cm field.
BSF (10 x 10)The back scatter factor (i.e., the tissue-air-ratio at dmax) for
the 10 cm x 10 cm field.

For each energy and collimator size

ROF (Wc)The relative output factor for collimator diameter Wc.

Reading at d max ( W c )
ROF = ----------------------------------------------------------
-
Reading at d max ( 10 10 )

BSF (Wc)The back scatter factor which can either be measured or

interpolated between the 0 cm x 0 cm and the 10 cm x 10 cm field size
back scatter factors.

Using TMR instead of TAR

For stereotactic collimators, it is straightforward to use TMR instead of
TAR when utilizing energies where air measurements are difficult.
We begin with the assumption that at high energies and with small field
sizes, the backscatter factor (BSF) for the circular collimator will be very
close to unity.

(1) BSF ( W c ) = 1.0

The term backscatter factor is the tissue-air ratio at the depth of maximum
dose on the central axis of the beam. It is defined as the ratio of the dose
on the central axis at the depth of maximum dose to the dose at the same
point in free space (Khan, 1994).
Because
TAR ( d, W c )
(2) TMR ( d, W c ) = ----------------------------
-
BSF ( W c )

It follows that for high energy, small fields:

TMR ( d, W c ) = TAR ( d, W c )
Philips Medical Systems

(3)

Thus, a collimator backscatter factor of 1.0 can be specified when the

energy is high, and the TAR values are then equivalent to TMR.

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Measured data requirements for stereotactic radiosurgery beams 5.2

Pinnacle3 uses a quantity labelled dI which is defined by the following

equation:

D air BSF ( 10 10 )
(4) d I ( W c ) = OF ( W c ) ---------
- ( 10 10 ) ---------------------------------
MU BSF ( W c )

Because BSF(Wc) = 1.0, we have:

D air
(5) d I ( W c ) = OF ( W c ) ---------
- ( 10 10 ) BSF ( 10 10 )
MU

The backscatter factor is the dose at dmax divided by the dose in free space
at the same point. Thus, the second two terms of this equation can be
multiplied, and the air measurement cancels, yielding the following
equation:
D
(6) d I ( W c ) = OF ( W c ) ---------- ( d max, 10 10 )
MU

The Pinnacle3 dose equation is given as follows:

D D penc (SSD, d, r, Wc )
(7) --------- (SSD, d, r, Wc ) = -------------------------------------------------------
- TAR (d iso,Wc ) d I (Wc )
MU D penc (SSD, d iso, r = 0, Wc )

where:
Dpenc(SSD, d, r, Wc) is the dose at depth d, and off axis distance r from
the stored pencil beam dose distribution in water at SSD, for a
collimator of size Wc,
Dpenc (SSD, diso, r = 0, Wc) is the dose at isocenter for a collimator of size
Wc at SSD, where the isocenter is at depth diso from the patient surface,
TAR(diso, Wc) is the tissue-air-ratio at the isocenter,
dI (Wc) is the dose per monitor unit to a small mass of tissue in air at the
isocenter.
4535 604 45211 A

Replacing TAR with TMR and replacing dI with the reduced dI defined in
equation 6 above yields the familiar TMR equation:

D D penc (SSD, d, r, Wc )
(8) --------- (SSD, d, r,Wc ) = -------------------------------------------------------
- TMR (d iso,Wc ) d I (Wc )
MU D penc (SSD, d iso, r = 0, Wc )
Philips Medical Systems

So, to avoid in-air measurements you can do the following:

Enter a collimator backscatter factor (BSF(Wc)) of 1.0.
Enter a reference field backscatter factor (BSF(10 x 10)) of 1.0.
For the Dair/MU(10 x 10) value, enter D/MU(dmax, 10 x 10).

Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Stereotactic Radiosurgery Physics & Data Requirements 83

5.2 Measured data requirements for stereotactic radiosurgery beams

In the planning software, the Monitor Units window reports dI as defined

by the equation:
D
(9) d I ( W c ) = OF ( W c ) ---------- ( d max, 10 10 )
MU

If the machine is calibrated such that D/MU(dmax, 10 x 10) = 1cGy/MU,

then

(10) d I ( W c ) = OF ( W c )

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84 Stereotactic Radiosurgery Physics & Data Requirements Pinnacle 3 Release 9

6 Brachytherapy Physics

This chapter describes the Pinnacle3 brachytherapy dose algorithm and the
required source characteristic data.

6.1 Brachytherapy dose calculation

Pinnacle3 uses a two-dimensional, symmetric dose lookup table for
determining dose from brachytherapy sources. The dose calculation is
based on a homogeneous medium.

CAUTION No heterogeneity corrections are applied, regardless of whether you plan from CT
or film.

The Pinnacle3 brachytherapy physics tool provides two methods of

calculating the dose lookup tables: Geometric and TG43. Geometric
calculation is based on the Quantization method described by Cassell
(1983). The TG43 calculation method uses the TG43 dose formalism
(Nath, et al., 1995) when calculating the lookup table.

6.1.1 The geometric dose calculation method

In the Pinnacle3 software, the Cassell calculation method is called the
Geometric method. When using the geometric calculation, the source is
divided into equally sized elements, as shown in the diagram below.

P

4535 604 45211 A

.
.
. ds = distance through source
df = distance through wall (filter)
dl = distance through water
Philips Medical Systems

Each element is treated as a point source when the dose rate for a line
source is computed. The source is divided into a minimum of 20 voxels in
each dimension. Sources that are larger than 0.5 cm use voxels of
0.025 cm in size.

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6.1 Brachytherapy dose calculation

The absorbed dose rate at a time t to point p from a single shielded line
source, Dp (t), can be determined from the following equation.
N
1 ( d d )
D p ( t ) = f med A ( t ) ---- e s s f f ( ( T ( d l ) ) d i )
2
N
i

where:
fmed is the exposure-to-dose conversion factor for soft tissue.
G is the specific exposure rate constant (R cm2 mCi-1 h-1) for the source.
A(t) is the activity, in mCi, of the source at the time of treatment. If
activity is specified in units other than mCi, the system internally
converts the activity to mCi for the dose calculation.
N is the number of point sources (elements) used to model the source.
s is the linear absorption coefficient of the source material.
ds is the path length of the radiation through the source.
f is the linear absorption coefficient of the wall material.
df is the path length of the radiation through the wall.
dl is the path length of the radiation through water.
di is the distance from the ith point source to the dose point P.
di = ds + df + dl
T(dl), the tissue correction, is the polynomial (i.e., Meisberger
coefficients):

Exposure in water 2 3
T ( d l ) = --------------------------------------- = A + Br + Cr + Dr
Exposure in air

A lookup table is computed which stores the shape of the dose. This
table is calculated using the summation:
N
1 ( d d )
---- e s s f f ( ( T ( d l )) d i 2 )
N
i
Philips Medical Systems

CAUTION The dose algorithm used by the Pinnacle3 software requires the entry of a tissue
correction factor, T(dl), represented by Meisberger polynomial coefficients. This
factor is different from the radial dose function, g(r), described by the TG43 dose
formalism (Nath, et al.).

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Brachytherapy dose calculation 6.1

CAUTION Because labeling in the Pinnacle3 software once referred to Radial Dose Function
data entry, it was possible to conclude that the radial dose function coefficients
published for the TG43 dose formalism could be used. The values for the radial dose
function coefficients provided for the TG43 formalism should be used only with a
TG43 dose algorithm. If they are used with any other dose formalism, such as the
Quantization Method implemented in the Pinnacle3 software, significant dose
calculation errors may result (Cassell, A fundamental approach to the design of a
dose-rate calculation program for use in brachytherapy, British Journal of
Radiology, 1983).

If the source is a point source rather than a line source, the distance
through the source (ds) and the distance through the wall (df ) are both 0,
and exp(0) = 1. Additionally, since there is only one point source, activity
summation is not necessary.

P
Source

Therefore, the dose calculation equation

N
1 ( d d )
D p ( t ) = f med A ( t ) ---- e s s f f ( ( T ( d l ) ) d i )
2
N
i

becomes
2
D p ( t ) = f med A ( t ) ( ( T ( d l ) ) d )

Source strength decay calculation

In the Pinnacle3 software, the activity for a source is specified during
treatment planning rather than in the physics tool. In addition, the
calibration date and time and the treatment date and time are specified
4535 604 45211 A

during treatment planning. However, the half-life for an isotope is

specified in the physics tool.
The source activity at time t is calculated by the software using the
following equation:
Philips Medical Systems

A ( t ) = A ( t cal ) e ( t tcal )

where
tcal is the time of calibration
t is the time of treatment and
= ln(2) / half life

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6.1 Brachytherapy dose calculation

In Pinnacle3s source strength decay calculations, time is handled in

seconds. The time conversions into seconds are as follows:
1 year = 365 24 60 60 seconds
1 month = (365/12) 24 60 60 seconds
1 day = 24 60 60 seconds
1 hour = 60 60 seconds

Activity conversions
In all internal calculations, the system defines activity (A (t)) in mCi.
When the activity is defined in units other than mCi, it is converted to
mCi using the following methods.

Units Conversion to mCi

mCi 1.0

Ci 1000.0 mCi/Ci = 1000.0

Bq (1Bq / 106 MBq) * (1mCi /37.0 MBq) = 1 / (37 * 106)

MBq (1.0 mCi / 37.0 MBq) = (1 / 37)

mgRaEq 8.25 R cm2 mCi-1 hr-1/

R*m2/h (100 cm / m)2 /

R*cm2/h 1.0 /

cGy*cm2/h 1.0 / ((W/e) * )

cGy*m2/h (100 cm / m)2 / ((W/e) * )

U 1.0 / ((W/e) * )

where:
is the exposure rate constant in units of R cm2 mCi-1 hr-1, and
W/e is the air exposure to dose constant expressed in cGy/R

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Brachytherapy dose calculation 6.1

6.1.2 TG43 dose computation method

The TG43 computation method uses the dose formalism proposed by the
AAPM Task Group No. 43. This protocol allows for two-dimensional
dose calculations around cylindrically symmetric sources. The dose
formalism is described by Nath, et al., as follows.

General formalism for two-dimensional case

The TG43 formulas consider the source to be cylindrically symmetrical.
For such sources, the dose distribution is two-dimensional and can be
described in terms of a polar coordinate system with its origin at the
center, where r is the distance to the point of interest and is the angle
with respect to the long axis of the source. The dose rate, D(r, ), at point
(r, ) can be written as

D ( r , ) = S k [ G ( r, ) G ( r 0 , 0 ) ]g ( r )F ( r, )

where:
Sk is the air kerma strength of the source (units of U)
is the dose rate constant (units of cGy h-1 U-1)
G(r,)/G(r0,0) is the geometry factor normalized to the reference point
g(r) is the radial dose function
F(r, ) is the anisotropy function.
Each of these quantities or functions and the reference point (r0, 0) are
described in the following sections.

Reference point for dose calculations

The reference point (r0, 0) lies on the transverse bisector of the source at a
distance of 1 cm from its center (r0 = 1 cm and 0 = /2).

P(r,)
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r
P(r0,0) x
r0 = 1 cm
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1 2
z
L
t

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6.1 Brachytherapy dose calculation

Air kerma strength, Sk

Air kerma strength is a measure of brachytherapy source strength, which is

defined as the product of air kerma rate at a calibration distance in free
space, K(d), measured along the transverse bisector of the source, and the
square of the distance, d.

S k = K ( d )d
2

The calibration distance must be large enough that the source may be
treated as a mathematical point. In actual practice, air kerma rate
standardization measurements are performed in air and corrections for air
attenuation are applied if needed. While the measurements for source
strength calibration may be performed at any large distance, d, it is
customary to specify the air kerma strength in terms of a reference
calibration distance, d0, which is usually 1 m. The physicist typically does
not perform the in-air calibration; a standardization laboratory does.
However, the physicist should verify the accuracy of source strength
provided by the vendor. Typically, you should have a well-type ionization
chamber with a calibration traceable to the national standards for each
type of brachytherapy source.
If kerma, time, and distance are assigned units of Gy, h, and m,
respectively, Sk will have units of Gy m2 h-1, as recommended by the
TG43 report. This unit is denoted by the symbol U:
1 U = 1 unit of air kerma strength = 1 Gy m2 h-1 = 1 cGy cm2 h-1
The geometric relationship between the point of output determination
and an arbitrary filtered source have been described previously by
Williamson and Nath.

Dose rate constant,

The dose rate constant is the dose rate to water at 1 cm on the transverse
axis of a unit air kerma strength source in a water phantom. The dose rate
constant is an absolute quantity, unlike the normalized (relative) quantities
that follow in this section. Liquid water is the reference medium used to
specify the dose rate constant as well as relative dose distribution
parameters. The 1 cm distance is specified along the transverse axis of the
actual source (rather than an idealized point source) relative to its
geometric center. Mathematically, the dose rate constant is
Philips Medical Systems

= D ( r 0 , 0 ) S k

The constant includes the effects of source geometry, encapsulation, the

spatial distribution of radioactivity within the source, self-filtration within
the source, and scattering in water surrounding the source. This quantity
also depends on the standardization measurements to which the air kerma
strength calibration of the source is traceable. If the air kerma strength
standard for a given source provided by NIST is changed in the future, the
value of also changes.

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Brachytherapy dose calculation 6.1

Geometry factor, G(r, )

The geometry factor accounts for the variation of relative dose due only to
the spatial distribution of activity within the source, ignoring photon
absorption and scattering in the source structure. It is defined as

--------------------------------------------------
v [ ( r' ) dV' r' r ]
2

G ( r, ) = -
v ( r' ) d V'

where (r') represents the density of radioactivity at the point

(r') = (x', y', z') within the source and V denotes integration over the
source core. dV' is a volume element located at r' in the source. Because
the three-dimensional distribution of (r) is uncertain for many sources
such as 125I and because the choice of G(r, ) influences only the accuracy
of interpolation, the line source approximation to G(r, ) is used.
When the distribution of radioactivity can be approximated by a point
source or by a line source of length, L, the G(r, ) reduces to r -2 for point
source approximation, and to the following for line source approximation:

G(r, ) =
Lr sin

where L is the active length of the source and is the angle subtended by
the active source with respect to the point (r, ) [ = 2 - 1].
Pinnacle3 reports G(r,)/G(r0,0) when it computes the Geometry
function, which normalizes the displayed table to the reference point
(r0,0).

CAUTION If you manually enter TG43 geometry factors, Pinnacle3 will automatically
normalize them to be 1 at a distance of 1 cm from the center of the source. This
function is indicated by the following equation, which appears when you manually
enter TG43 geometry factors: G(r, theta)/G(1 cm, 90 deg).

Radial dose function, g(r)

4535 604 45211 A

The radial dose function, g(r), accounts for the fall-off of dose rate along
the transverse axis due to absorption and scattering in the medium. It is
defined as

g ( r ) = D ( r, 0 )G ( r 0, 0 ) D ( r 0, 0 )G ( r, 0 )
Philips Medical Systems

The radial dose function applies only to transverse axis (only for points
with an angle of 0, which is equal to /2). It can be influenced by
filtration of photons by the encapsulation and source materials.
The function g(r) is similar to a normalized transverse-axis tissue-
attenuation factor or an absorbed dose to kerma in free space ratio. The
above definition of radial dose function is different from the older (Dale)
definition.

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6.1 Brachytherapy dose calculation

Anisotropy function, F(r,)

This function accounts for the anisotropy of dose distribution around the
source, including the effects of absorption and scatter in the medium. It is
defined as

F ( r, ) = D ( r, )G ( r, 0 ) D ( r, 0 ) G ( r, )

This two-dimensional function gives the angular variation of dose rate

about the source at each distance due to self-filtration, oblique filtration of
primary photons through the encapsulating material, and scattering of
photons in the medium. The role of the geometry factor is to suppress the
influence of inverse square law on the dose distribution around the source.
Due to the large dose rate gradients encountered near interstitial sources,
it is difficult to measure dose rates accurately at distances less than 5 mm
from the source. In addition, the large dose rate variation arising from
inverse square law makes it difficult to accurately interpolate intermediate
dose rate values without an excessively large table of measured data. By
suppressing inverse square law effects, you can more accurately extrapolate
to small distances from dose rate profiles measured at distances of 5 and
10 mm, as well as interpolate between sparsely distributed measured
values.

Point isotropic source approximation

Some clinical treatment planning systems for interstitial brachytherapy use
the one-dimensional isotropic point source model to compute interstitial
source dose distributions. In this approximation, dose depends only on the
radial distance from the source. If a large number of seeds are randomly
oriented, or the degree of dose anisotropy around single sources is limited,
the dose rate contribution to tissue from each seed can be well
approximated by the average radial dose rate, as estimated by integrating
the single anisotropic seed source with respect to solid angle:

D ( r ) = ------ D ( r, ) d
1
0
4
4

where d = 2 sin d for a cylindrically symmetric dose distribution.

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Anisotropy factor, an(r)

If we substitute the general TG43 equation below into the one above:

D ( r, ) = S k [ G ( r, ) G ( r 0, 0 ) ]g ( r )F ( r, )

and then rearrange, we can devise the following equation:

G ( r, 0 )
D ( r ) = S k ---------------------
- g ( r ) an ( r )
G ( r 0, 0 )

where an(r) is the anisotropy factor

0 D ( r, 0 ) sin d
an ( r ) = --------------------------------------
2D ( r, 0 )

The factor an (r) is the ratio of the dose rate at distance r (averaged with
respect to solid angle) to dose rate on the transverse axis at the same
distance. For the sources, (r) is less than 1, having values ranging from
0.91 to 0.97 depending upon the source. For distances greater than the
source active length, the equation for dose around a source using point-
source approximation simplifies to:

D ( r ) = S k r 0 r g ( r ) an ( r )
2 2

Anisotropy constant, an
The anisotropy factor (r) may be approximated by a distance-
independent constant, an, which we call the anisotropy constant. It is
usually less than 1.00. Thus, the anisotropy factor, an(r), in the above
equation can be replaced by a constant an without a significant loss in
accuracy. Point source approximation, as shown in the two previous
equations, gives a dose rate at the reference point in the medium on the
transverse bisector at 1 cm from the source, equal to an(r) for a unit air
kerma strength source. Thus, dose rate on the transverse axis in the
medium is somewhat lower using the point-source approximation than
4535 604 45211 A

the actual dose rate by 3% to 9% for the sources.

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Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Brachytherapy Physics 93

6.2 References and recommended reading

6.2 References and recommended reading

Cassell, K.J. 1983. A fundamental approach to the design of a dose-rate
calculation program for use in brachytherapy. The British Journal of
Radiology 56:113-119.
Dale, R.G. 1983. Some theoretical derivations relating to the tissue
dosimetry of brachytherapy nuclides, with particular reference to
iodine-125. Medical Physics 10:176-183.
Meisberger, L.L., R.J. Keller, and R.J. Shalek, 1968. The effective
attenuation in water of the gamma rays of gold 198, iridium 192, cesium
137, radium 226, and cobalt 60. Radiology 90:953-957.
Nath, R., L.L Anderson, G. Luxton, K.A. Weaver, J.F. Williamson, and
A.S. Meigooni. 1995. Dosimetry of interstitial brachytherapy sources:
Recommendations of the AAPM Radiation Therapy Committee Task
Group No. 43. Medical Physics 22(2):209-234.
Williamson et al, 1999. Guidance to users of Nycomed Amersham and
North American Scientific, Inc., I-125 Interstitial Sources: Dosimetry and
calibration changes: Recommendations of the American Association of
Physicists in Medicine Radiation Therapy Committee Ad Hoc
Subcommittee on Low-Energy Seed Dosimetry. Medical Physics 26(4):
570-573.
Williamson, et al, 2000. Recommendations of the American Association
of Physicists in Medicine on 103Pd interstitial source calibration and
dosimetry: Implications for dose specification and prescription. Medical
Physics 27(4): 634-642.

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7 Additional Reference Information

This chapter explains the following aspects of file handling with Pinnacle3:
The first section lists manufacturers whose water phantom data is
compatible with Pinnacle3.
The next section explains how to import measured data files into
Pinnacle3 using the full or simple ASCII format for dose profiles.
The last section explains how to copy DOS-formatted files to the
system hard drive.

7.1 Compatible water phantom formats

The manufacturers in the following list make water phantoms whose
software and data are compatible with Pinnacle3:
Scanditronix WellhferWhen importing this data into Pinnacle3, use
the legacy Wellhfer 600 or 700 series ASCII format, or the full ASCII
format. Do not use Binary format. For more information, contact
Customer Support and ask for Application Note 2000-09.
MultiData Full ASCIIBefore importing this data into Pinnacle3, save
the files in Comma Separated Value (CSV) format. Depending on how
your profiles were generated, the scaling of the profile data will not
reflect the changing scale factor with depth.For more information,
contact Customer Support and ask for Application Note 2000-08.
RFA ScanditronixTheir software outputs data in Pinnacle3 full
ASCII format, which is described in detail later in this appendix.
Contact your Scanditronix Wellhfer vendor to obtain the software.
CMS DynascanTheir software outputs data in Pinnacle3 full ASCII
format, which is described in detail later in this appendix. Contact your
CMS Dynascan vendor to obtain the software.
4535 604 45211 A

PTW scanning systemTheir software outputs data in Pinnacle3 full

ASCII format, which is described in detail later in this appendix.
Contact your PTW vendor to obtain the software.
XL-PlanFor details on data compatibility, contact your XL-Plan
vendor.
Philips Medical Systems

Use the tabular format if you enter values by hand.

N OT E If your phantom manufacturer is not listed, check with them. It is possible that their
format is compatible with Pinnacle3.

Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Additional Reference Information 95

7.2 Measured data file formats

7.2 Measured data file formats

Pinnacle3 can import measured data using the following ASCII file
formats:
The full ASCII file format includes the energy, SSD and field size in the
file. When using the full ASCII format, multiple profiles can be stored
in a single file. This format also supports wedge name and circulator
collimator size (optional).
The simple ASCII format can only be used for individual profiles and
does not include the energy or setup geometry in the file.
Offsets for X and Y profiles are measured out from the central axis as
shown below.
Top
Table

-y
-x +x
Left Right
+y

Bottom

Beams Eye View (from

above) when the wedge tray
opening faces the gantry. Linear accelerator

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96 Additional Reference Information Pinnacle 3 Release 9

Measured data file formats 7.2

7.2.1 Full ASCII file format for dose profiles

The full ASCII file format used by Pinnacle3 allows you to import
measured data files containing either a single profile or multiple profiles.
The full ASCII file format includes information on the energy and
geometry used for the measurement in the file. When using the full ASCII
file format, all profiles in a given file must have the same energy, SSD and
field size.
The full ASCII format requires the data to be stored as numeric values or
unquoted character strings separated by spaces using the following format.
Variables in bold typeface are described on the following page. Wedges
and circular collimators are optional, but when they are used, the wedge
name and circular collimator size must be prefaced with the text strings
shown below in italics, and the wedge and collimators must be defined for
the machine prior to importing the files. If the name or diameter values
contain spaces, the name or diameter value must be surrounded by double
quotation marks. For example, for a wedge called 45 degree, the format for
the wedge name line in the file would be:
WedgeName 45 degree
The Energy, Number of Profiles and Number of Points must be integers.
The rest of the values may be integer or floating point.
FileType
Energy SSD
Left Jaw Right Jaw Top Jaw Bottom Jaw
WedgeName Name
CircularCollimatorSize Diameter
Number of Profiles
Profile Type Measurement Parameter A Measurement Parameter B
Number of Points
Depth or Offset Measured Dose
. .
. .
4535 604 45211 A

. .
Depth or Offset Measured Dose
Profile Type Measurement Parameter A Measurement Parameter B
Number of Points
Philips Medical Systems

Depth or Offset Measured Dose

. .
. .
. .
Depth or Offset Measured Dose

Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Additional Reference Information 97

7.2 Measured data file formats

The FileType must be PinnDoseProfile.

Left Jaw, Right Jaw, Top Jaw, and Bottom Jaw must be expressed in
centimeters.
Profile Type must be DepthDose, XProfile or YProfile.
Measurement Parameter A and Measurement Parameter B vary
depending on the Profile Type, as follows:
Parameter A Parameter B
For DepthDose profiles: X Offset Y Offset
For XProfile profiles: Profile Depth Y Offset
For YProfile profiles: Profile Depth X Offset
Depth and Offset values must be expressed in centimeters.
N OT E It is not necessary to normalize the dose values because all dose measurements are
normalized within Pinnacle3.

The following example shows a portion of a full ASCII format file

containing a depth dose curve and an X profile curve:
PinnDoseProfile (indicates file type)
18 100 (18 MV energy, 100 SSD)
5 5 5 5 (10 x10 cm field size)
2 (two profiles)
DepthDose 0.010 0.00 (depth dose data, X offset = 0.01 cm,
Y offset = 0 cm)
141 (141 points in the depth dose)
0.000 21.900 (first depth = 0 cm, first dose = 21.900)
0.250 27.100 (second depth = 0.25 cm,
second dose = 27.100)
.
.
.
35.000 27.799 (last depth = 35 cm, last dose = 27.799)
XProfile 10.000 0.000 (X profile data, Profile depth = 10 cm,
Y offset = 0 cm)
Philips Medical Systems

121 (121 points in the second profile)

0.250 81.700 (first offset = 0.25 cm, first dose = 81.7)
0.500 82.300 (second offset = 0.5 cm,
second dose = 82.3)
.
.
.
30.000 0.130 (last offset = 30 cm, last dose = 0.13)

98 Additional Reference Information Pinnacle 3 Release 9

Measured data file formats 7.2

7.2.2 Simple ASCII file format for dose profiles

Individual measured data profiles can be written out in a simple ASCII file
format and imported into the physics tools. The simple ASCII file format
requires the total number of measured points in the file to be listed on the
first line and the points and dose values to be listed one per line and
separated by a space, as follows:
Total number of points
Depth or offset (in cm) Measured dose
It is not necessary to normalize the dose values, as all dose measurements
are normalized within Pinnacle3.
The following example shows a portion of an ASCII format file for a
depth dose curve containing 141 measurements (from 0 to 35 cm depth
using 0.25 cm spacing).
141
0.000000 21.900000
0.250000 27.100000
0.500000 44.299999
0.750000 57.000000
1.000000 69.300003
1.250000 76.900002
1.500000 83.900002
1.750000 88.500000
2.000000 92.000000
2.250000 94.699997
.
.
.
4535 604 45211 A

34.000000 28.900000
34.250000 28.700001
34.500000 28.500000
34.750000 28.299999
Philips Medical Systems

35.000000 27.799999

Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Additional Reference Information 99

7.2 Measured data file formats

Philips Medical Systems

100 Additional Reference Information Pinnacle 3 Release 9

8 Physics Data Worksheets

The worksheets in this section provide checklists for the physics data
required by the Pinnacle3 treatment planning system.
The machine description worksheets list the physical description
information required for the machines. These worksheets duplicate
portions of the physics tool windows into which the data must be entered.
Details on the machine physical description information can be found in
the Physical Machine Characteristics chapter of this manual.
The measured data worksheets summarize the measured data required for
each treatment modality. These worksheets can be used as checklists when
measuring machine data to make sure that you measure all of the data
required for each modality. Detailed descriptions of the measured data
requirements can be found in the chapters of this manual that cover each
modality. The worksheets list the data which must be collected for each
measurement geometry for each energy on every machine.
Make as many copies of the worksheets as necessary.
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Philips Medical Systems

Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Physics Data Worksheets 101

8.1 Machine information - collimator jaws

8.1 Machine information - collimator jaws

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Collimator jaw information

Setting Left/right jaws Top/bottom jaws

Left Right Top Bottom

Jaw name

Jaw pair name

Jaw pair thickness

Can be asymmetric?

Minimum position

Maximum position

Default position

Decimal places

Top
Table

-y
-x +x
Left Right
+y

Bottom

Beams Eye View (from

Philips Medical Systems

above) when the wedge tray

opening faces the gantry. Linear accelerator

102 Physics Data Worksheets Pinnacle 3 Release 9

Machine information - couch & collimator angles 8.2

8.2 Machine information - couch & collimator

angles

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Couch angle information

Setting Value

Minimum angle

Maximum angle

Default angle

Decimal places

Couch angle when foot of table points away from gantry

When viewed from above, is positive rotation clockwise?

Collimator angle information

Setting Value

Minimum angle

Maximum angle

Default angle

Decimal places

Collimator angle when tray opening faces gantry*

4535 604 45211 A

When viewed from above, is positive rotation

counterclockwise?

*Some machines have a tray opening that never faces the gantry. Enter the angle as if you were
able to rotate the tray opening to face the gantry.
Philips Medical Systems

Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Physics Data Worksheets 103

8.3 Machine information - gantry angles

8.3 Machine information - gantry angles

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Gantry angle information

Setting Value

Minimum angle

Maximum angle

Default angle

Decimal places

Gantry angle when beam points down toward floor

Arc allowed?

Arc rotation direction

CW or CCW

CW only

CCW only

When facing gantry, is positive rotation counterclockwise?

Conformal arc (yes or no)

Machine has C-Arm?

C-Arm maximum angle

C-Arm decimal places

Philips Medical Systems

104 Physics Data Worksheets Pinnacle 3 Release 9

Machine information - delivery parameters 8.4

8.4 Machine information - delivery parameters

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Delivery parameters

Setting Value

Maximum gantry rotations (deg/sec)

Maximum jaw speed (cm/sec)

Maximum MLC leaf speed (cm/sec)

Allow conformal arc?

Allow dynamic arc?

Dose rate delivery behavior:

Constant dose rate

Continuously variable dose rate

Binned dose rate

Maximum gantry MU delivery (MU/deg)

Minimum gantry MU delivery (MU/deg)

Minimum MLC leaf MU delivery (MU/deg)

Limit gantry acceleration?

Maximum gantry rate change (deg/sec)

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Philips Medical Systems

Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Physics Data Worksheets 105

8.5 Machine information - miscellaneous machine parameters

8.5 Machine information - miscellaneous machine

parameters

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Miscellaneous machine information

Setting Value

Primary collimation angle (radians)

Source to axis distance (cm)

Source to (bottom of) flattening filter distance (cm)

Source to (bottom of) top/bottom jaw (cm)

Source to (bottom of) left/right jaw (cm)

Source to (top of) block tray (cm)

Monitor unit decimal places (for beams)

Monitor unit decimal places (for control points)

Maximum MU setting

Maximum MU per degree

When MU exceeded:

(1) Warn and limit beam MU to maximum setting

(2) Warn and allow beam MU to exceed maximum

Default block/field edge overlap (cm)

Philips Medical Systems

106 Physics Data Worksheets Pinnacle 3 Release 9

Multi-leaf collimator (MLC) information 8.6

8.6 Multi-leaf collimator (MLC) information

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Because an MLC typically has 20 to 40 pairs of leaves, you might want to

make multiple copies of these pages to note information for each pair of
leaves.

MLC information - General

Setting Value

Vendor

Leaf motion parallel to movement of left/right jaw or top/

bottom jaw?

MLC replaces jaw?

Source to (bottom of) MLC distance (cm)

MLC tracks jaws?

MLC does not track jaws for open fields

MLC tracks X jaws for open fields

MLC tracks XY jaws for open fields

MLC thickness (cm)

Leaf position decimal places

Bank names

For leaf motion parallel to left/right jaw:

For the MLC leaf positions, is the Top (X2) jaw +Y or -Y?
4535 604 45211 A

For leaf motion parallel to top/bottom jaw:

For the MLC leaf positions, is the Left (Y2) jaw +X or -X?

MLC has rounded leaves?

MLC has carriage?

Philips Medical Systems

Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Physics Data Worksheets 107

8.6 Multi-leaf collimator (MLC) information

MLC information - Leaves

Setting Value

Allow opposing adjacent leaves to overlap?

Tongue and groove width (cm)

Additional interleaf leakage transmission

Maximum tip difference for all leaves on a side (cm)

Minimum static leaf gap (cm)

Minimum dynamic leaf gap (cm)

Leaf Position (cm) Width (cm) Minimum tip Maximum tip

Pair position (cm) position (cm)

Philips Medical Systems

108 Physics Data Worksheets Pinnacle 3 Release 9

Multi-leaf collimator (MLC) information 8.6

Leaf Position (cm) Width (cm) Minimum tip Maximum tip

Pair position (cm) position (cm)

MLC information - Jaw dependencies

Setting Value
4535 604 45211 A

Default jaws behavior (static or variable)

Open extra set of leaf pairs outside jaws automatically?

Maximum leaf/jaw overlap (cm)

Minimum leaf/jaw overlap (cm)

Philips Medical Systems

Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Physics Data Worksheets 109

8.7 Machine information - wedges

8.7 Machine information - wedges

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Wedge information
You only need to provide values for the type of wedge you are using
(physical or dynamic). You can make copies of this page, if necessary, if
you will be using multiple wedges.

Type of Wedge Setting Value

Physical wedge Name

Can be used as motorized wedge?

Wedge angle

Wedge Material

Density (gm/cm3)

Wedge on top of mounting tray?

Source to wedge distance (cm)

Length (cm)

Dynamic wedge - Wedge energy (MV)

Siemens
Transmission factor

Linear attenuation coefficient

Calibration constant

Minimum and maximum jaw speeds

(mm/s)

Minimum & maximum dose rates in low

dose mode (MU/min)

Minimum & maximum dose rates in high

Philips Medical Systems

dose mode (MU/min)

Dynamic wedge - Wedge energy (MV)

Varian

Transmission factor

Minimum deliverable monitor units

(Varian wedges only)

Minimum angle allowed

Maximum angle allowed

110 Physics Data Worksheets Pinnacle 3 Release 9

Machine information - wedges 8.7

Regardless of whether you are using physical wedges or dynamic wedges,

you should also fill out the following table.

Orientation Allowed? Label Manufacturer Jaw Limits in cm

Code
Left Right Top Bottom

The Left, Right, Top and Bottom jaw labels in the above table refer to the
jaws indicated in the following illustration.
Top
Table

-y
-x +x
Left Right
+y

Bottom

Beams Eye View (from

above) when the wedge tray
opening faces the gantry. Linear accelerator
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Philips Medical Systems

Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Physics Data Worksheets 111

8.8 Machine information - wedges

8.8 Machine information - wedges

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Wedge name:

Wedge physical profile

The profile is defined by the offset (in centimeters) from the central axis
and the wedge thickness (in centimeters) at that point. The offset is
measured out from the central axis, which has an offset value of 0.0. The
values for the offsets measured from the central axis to the heel of the
wedge should be negative. The values for the offsets measured from the
central axis to the toe of the wedge should be positive.
-n (0.0) +n

When the wedge profile values are entered in the software, the values for
the thick end of the wedge must be entered first. To define the thickness of
the heel of the wedge, the first offset value should be entered twice: once
with a thickness of 0.0 and again with the measured thickness. The
thickness does not include any base on which the wedge is mounted.

Central Axis Offset Thickness

Philips Medical Systems

112 Physics Data Worksheets Pinnacle 3 Release 9

Machine information - record and verify system 8.9

8.9 Machine information - record and verify system

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Record and verify information

Setting Value

Enable R & V for this machine? (Yes or No)

Top jaw coordinate

Bottom jaw coordinate

Left jaw coordinate

Right jaw coordinate

MLC leaf bank output order (Left bank is first or last?)

MLC leaf pair output order (Leaf pair 1 is first or last?)

4535 604 45211 A
Philips Medical Systems

Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Physics Data Worksheets 113

8.10 Machine information - electron cones

8.10 Machine information - electron cones

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Electron cones

Print additional copies of this worksheet for additional electron

cones.

Setting Value

Electron cone name

Manufacturer code

Width

Length

Setting Value

Electron cone name

Manufacturer code

Width

Length

Setting Value

Electron cone name

Manufacturer code

Width

Length
Philips Medical Systems

Setting Value

Electron cone name

Manufacturer code

Width

Length

114 Physics Data Worksheets Pinnacle 3 Release 9

Machine information - stereotactic collimators 8.11

8.11 Machine information - stereotactic collimators

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Stereotactic radiosurgery collimators

Name Diameter (cm) X1 X2 Y1 Y2

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Philips Medical Systems

Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Physics Data Worksheets 115

8.12 Machine information - tolerance tables

8.12 Machine information - tolerance tables

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Tolerance tables

Table Name Table Number

Philips Medical Systems

116 Physics Data Worksheets Pinnacle 3 Release 9

Photon beam energy information 8.13

8.13 Photon beam energy information

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Photon beam energy information

Setting Value

Photon energy name

Photon energy (MV)

Default tray factor

Default block and tray factor

Dose rate table (MU/min)

Enter the allowable dose rates for the machine in the table
cells at the right. The first value should be the maximum dose
rate for the energy, and subsequent values should be
monotonically decreasing.
4535 604 45211 A

Default dose rate (MU/min)

Philips Medical Systems

Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Physics Data Worksheets 117

8.14 Photon beam measured data worksheet 1: Open field

8.14 Photon beam measured data worksheet 1:

Open field

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Energy:

Wedge/modifier? (Y/N) Description:

Field size = 5 cm x 5 cm
SSD = 100
Recommended resolution for profiles: 0.20 cm

3 Profile Type Depth X Offset* Y Offset* Resolution Filename

Depth Dose 025 cm

X Profile 5 cm

Y Profile 5 cm

X Profile 10 cm

Y Profile 10 cm

X Profile 20 cm

Y Profile 20 cm

X Profile dmax

Y Profile dmax

* If depth dose profile is not measured on the central axis.

Philips Medical Systems

118 Physics Data Worksheets Pinnacle 3 Release 9

Photon beam measured data worksheet 2: Open field 8.15

8.15 Photon beam measured data worksheet 2:

Open field

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Energy:

Wedge/modifier? (Y/N) Description:

Field size = 10 cm x 10 cm
SSD = 100
Recommended resolution for profiles: 0.20 cm

3 Profile Type Depth X Offset* Y Offset* Resolution Filename

Depth Dose 025 cm

X Profile 5 cm

Y Profile 5 cm

X Profile 10 cm

Y Profile 10 cm

X Profile 20 cm

Y Profile 20 cm

X Profile dmax

Y Profile dmax

* If depth dose profile is not measured on the central axis.

4535 604 45211 A
Philips Medical Systems

Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Physics Data Worksheets 119

8.16 Photon beam measured data worksheet 3: Open field

8.16 Photon beam measured data worksheet 3:

Open field

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Energy:

Wedge/modifier? (Y/N) Description:

Field size = 20 cm x 20 cm
SSD = 100
Recommended resolution for profiles: 0.20 cm

3 Profile Type Depth X Offset* Y Offset* Resolution Filename

Depth Dose 025 cm

X Profile 5 cm

Y Profile 5 cm

X Profile 10 cm

Y Profile 10 cm

X Profile 20 cm

Y Profile 20 cm

X Profile dmax

Y Profile dmax

* If depth dose profile is not measured on the central axis.

Philips Medical Systems

120 Physics Data Worksheets Pinnacle 3 Release 9

Photon beam measured data worksheet 4: Open field 8.17

8.17 Photon beam measured data worksheet 4:

Open field

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Energy:

Wedge/modifier? (Y/N) Description:

Field size = 20 cm x 5 cm
SSD = 100
Recommended resolution for profiles: 0.20 cm

3 Profile Type Depth X Offset* Y Offset* Resolution Filename

Depth Dose 025 cm

X Profile 5 cm

Y Profile 5 cm

X Profile 10 cm

Y Profile 10 cm

X Profile 20 cm

Y Profile 20 cm

X Profile dmax

Y Profile dmax

* If depth dose profile is not measured on the central axis.

4535 604 45211 A
Philips Medical Systems

Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Physics Data Worksheets 121

8.18 Photon beam measured data worksheet 5: Open field

8.18 Photon beam measured data worksheet 5:

Open field

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Energy:

Wedge/modifier? (Y/N) Description:

Field size = 5 cm x 20 cm
SSD = 100
Recommended resolution for profiles: 0.20 cm

3 Profile Type Depth X Offset* Y Offset* Resolution Filename

Depth Dose 025 cm

X Profile 5 cm

Y Profile 5 cm

X Profile 10 cm

Y Profile 10 cm

X Profile 20 cm

Y Profile 20 cm

X Profile dmax

Y Profile dmax

* If depth dose profile is not measured on the central axis.

Philips Medical Systems

122 Physics Data Worksheets Pinnacle 3 Release 9

Photon beam measured data worksheet 6: Open field 8.19

8.19 Photon beam measured data worksheet 6:

Open field

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Energy:

Wedge/modifier? (Y/N) Description:

Field size = 30 cm x 30 cm
SSD = 100
Recommended resolution for profiles: 0.20 cm

3 Profile Type Depth X Offset* Y Offset* Resolution Filename

Depth Dose 025 cm

X Profile 5 cm

Y Profile 5 cm

X Profile 10 cm

Y Profile 10 cm

X Profile 20 cm

Y Profile 20 cm

X Profile dmax

Y Profile dmax

* If depth dose profile is not measured on the central axis.

4535 604 45211 A
Philips Medical Systems

Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Physics Data Worksheets 123

8.20 Photon beam measured data worksheet 7: Open field

8.20 Photon beam measured data worksheet 7:

Open field

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Energy:

Wedge/modifier? (Y/N) Description:

Field size = 40 cm x 40 cm (or largest field size)

SSD = 100
Recommended resolution for profiles: 0.20 cm

3 Profile Type Depth X Offset* Y Offset* Resolution Filename

Depth Dose 025 cm

X Profile 5 cm

Y Profile 5 cm

X Profile 10 cm

Y Profile 10 cm

X Profile 20 cm

Y Profile 20 cm

X Profile dmax

Y Profile dmax

* If depth dose profile is not measured on the central axis.

Philips Medical Systems

124 Physics Data Worksheets Pinnacle 3 Release 9

Photon beam measured data worksheet 8: MLC field 8.21

8.21 Photon beam measured data worksheet 8:

MLC field

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Energy:

Wedge/modifier? (Y/N) Description:

Jaw size = 20 cm x 20 cm
MLC field size = 2 cm x 2 cm
SSD = 100
Recommended resolution for profiles: 0.20 cm

3 Profile Type Depth X Offset* Y Offset* Resolution Filename

Depth Dose 025 cm

X Profile 5 cm

Y Profile 5 cm

X Profile 10 cm

Y Profile 10 cm

X Profile 20 cm

Y Profile 20 cm

X Profile dmax

Y Profile dmax

* If depth dose profile is not measured on the central axis.

4535 604 45211 A
Philips Medical Systems

Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Physics Data Worksheets 125

8.22 Photon beam measured data worksheet 9: MLC field

8.22 Photon beam measured data worksheet 9:

MLC field

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Energy:

Wedge/modifier? (Y/N) Description:

Jaw size = 20 cm x 20 cm
MLC field size = 3 cm x 3 cm
SSD = 100
Recommended resolution for profiles: 0.20 cm

3 Profile Type Depth X Offset* Y Offset* Resolution Filename

Depth Dose 025 cm

X Profile 5 cm

Y Profile 5 cm

X Profile 10 cm

Y Profile 10 cm

X Profile 20 cm

Y Profile 20 cm

X Profile dmax

Y Profile dmax

* If depth dose profile is not measured on the central axis.

Philips Medical Systems

126 Physics Data Worksheets Pinnacle 3 Release 9

Photon beam measured data worksheet 10: MLC field 8.23

8.23 Photon beam measured data worksheet 10:

MLC field

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Energy:

Wedge/modifier? (Y/N) Description:

Jaw size = 20 cm x 20 cm
MLC field size = 5 cm x 5cm
SSD = 100
Recommended resolution for profiles: 0.20 cm

3 Profile Type Depth X Offset* Y Offset* Resolution Filename

Depth Dose 025 cm

X Profile 5 cm

Y Profile 5 cm

X Profile 10 cm

Y Profile 10 cm

X Profile 20 cm

Y Profile 20 cm

X Profile dmax

Y Profile dmax

* If depth dose profile is not measured on the central axis.

4535 604 45211 A
Philips Medical Systems

Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Physics Data Worksheets 127

8.24 Photon beam measured data worksheet 11: MLC field

8.24 Photon beam measured data worksheet 11:

MLC field

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Energy:

Wedge/modifier? (Y/N) Description:

Jaw size = 20 cm x 20 cm
MLC field size = 10 cm x 10 cm
SSD = 100
Recommended resolution for profiles: 0.20 cm

3 Profile Type Depth X Offset* Y Offset* Resolution Filename

Depth Dose 025 cm

X Profile 5 cm

Y Profile 5 cm

X Profile 10 cm

Y Profile 10 cm

X Profile 20 cm

Y Profile 20 cm

X Profile dmax

Y Profile dmax

* If depth dose profile is not measured on the central axis.

Philips Medical Systems

128 Physics Data Worksheets Pinnacle 3 Release 9

Photon beam measured data worksheet 12: MLC field 8.25

8.25 Photon beam measured data worksheet 12:

MLC field

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Energy:

Wedge/modifier? (Y/N) Description:

Jaw size = 20 cm x 20 cm
MLC field size = 15 cm x 15 cm
SSD = 100
Recommended resolution for profiles: 0.20 cm

3 Profile Type Depth X Offset* Y Offset* Resolution Filename

Depth Dose 025 cm

X Profile 5 cm

Y Profile 5 cm

X Profile 10 cm

Y Profile 10 cm

X Profile 20 cm

Y Profile 20 cm

X Profile dmax

Y Profile dmax

* If depth dose profile is not measured on the central axis.

4535 604 45211 A
Philips Medical Systems

Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Physics Data Worksheets 129

8.26 Photon beam output factors worksheet

8.26 Photon beam output factors worksheet

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Energy:

Reference output factor measurement

Setting Value

Field size, MLC defined (for fixed jaw machines, if

applicable)

Calibration point depth (cm)

Source to calibration point distance (cm)

Dose/MU at calibration point (cGy/MU)

Note: Calibration point depth of 10 cm is strongly recommended. Do not use a calibration

point depth of dmax.

Relative output factor measurements

Depth (cm): same as calibration point depth

Field Size (cm2) Relative Output Factor

Philips Medical Systems

130 Physics Data Worksheets Pinnacle 3 Release 9

Wedged field output factors worksheet 8.27

8.27 Wedged field output factors worksheet

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Energy:

Wedged field output factor measurements

Wedge:

Field Size (cm2) Relative Output Factor

The relative output factor for a wedged field is calculated using the
equation

Dose WFS
OF = -------------------
-
Dose CFS
4535 604 45211 A

where DoseWFS is the measured dose for the given wedged field size and
DoseCFS is the measured dose for the open calibration field. Note that the
ratio is not the wedge transmission factor because DoseCFS is the fixed open
calibration field dose.
Philips Medical Systems

WA R N I N G The wedge transmission factor cannot be substituted for the wedged field output
factors. Using the wedge transmission factor instead of wedged field output factors
will result in incorrect monitor unit calculations.

Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Physics Data Worksheets 131

8.28 Stereotactic radiosurgery energy information

8.28 Stereotactic radiosurgery energy information

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Stereotactic radiosurgery energy information

Setting Value

Stereotactic energy name

Stereotactic energy (MV)

Dose rate table (MU/min)

Enter the allowable dose rates for the machine in the table
cells at the right. The first value should be the maximum dose
rate for the energy, and subsequent values should be
monotonically decreasing.

Default dose rate (MU/min)

Philips Medical Systems

132 Physics Data Worksheets Pinnacle 3 Release 9

Stereotactic radiosurgery measured data worksheet 8.29

8.29 Stereotactic radiosurgery measured data

worksheet

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Energy: Collimator Size (cm):

Recommended resolution for profiles: 0.20 cm

Profiles Measured with SSD = 80 cm

3 Profile Type Depth Resolution Filename

Depth Dose 030 cm

X Profile 1 cm

X Profile 5 cm

X Profile 10 cm

X Profile 15 cm*

X Profile 20 cm

X Profile 25 cm

X Profile 30 cm

Profiles Measured with SSD = 100 cm

3 Profile Type Depth Resolution Filename

Depth Dose 030 cm

X Profile 1 cm

X Profile 5 cm
4535 604 45211 A

X Profile 10 cm

X Profile 15 cm*

X Profile 20 cm

X Profile 25 cm
Philips Medical Systems

X Profile 30 cm

* Profiles at these depths are not required but are recommended for increased accuracy.

Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Physics Data Worksheets 133

8.30 Stereotactic radiosurgery output factors worksheet

8.30 Stereotactic radiosurgery output factors

worksheet

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Energy:

10 cm x 10 cm reference field measurements

Enter the values for a 10 cm x 10 cm field.

Setting Value

Dose/MU in air (cGy/MU)

Back scatter factor

Collimator-specific measurements

Collimator (cm) Relative Output Factor Back Scatter Factor

Philips Medical Systems

ROF (Wc)The relative output factor for collimator diameter Wc.

Reading at d max ( W c )
ROF ( W c ) = ----------------------------------------------------------
-
Reading at d max ( 10 10 )

134 Physics Data Worksheets Pinnacle 3 Release 9

Electron beam energy information 8.31

8.31 Electron beam energy information

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Electron beam energy information

Setting Value

Electron energy name

Electron energy (MV)

Default cutout material transmission factor

Dose rate table (MU/min)

Enter the allowable dose rates for the machine in the table
cells at the right. The first value should be the maximum dose
rate for the energy, and subsequent values should be
monotonically decreasing.
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Default dose rate (MU/min)

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8.32 Electron beam measured data worksheet 1

8.32 Electron beam measured data worksheet 1

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Energy:

Depth Dose Measurement for Determining the Practical Range

3 Profile Type Depth Cone Size Filename

Depth Dose SSD=SAD Largest available

Depth Dose Measurements with SSD = SAD

3 Profile Type Depth Cone Size Filename

Depth Dose Rp + 5 cm

Depth Dose Rp + 5 cm

Depth Dose Rp + 5 cm

Depth Dose Rp + 5 cm

Depth Dose Rp + 5 cm

Depth Dose Rp + 5 cm

Depth Dose Rp + 5 cm

Depth Dose Rp + 5 cm

Depth Dose Rp + 5 cm

Depth dose measurements in water must be made for each scanned square
field, otherwise the software cannot compute the profile.

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Electron beam measured data worksheet 2 8.33

8.33 Electron beam measured data worksheet 2

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Energy:

The following profiles must be measured with a water phantom setup

SSD = SAD. For quality assurance, the same set of profiles should be
measured at extended SSDs (for example, 105, 110, 115, and 120 for an
SAD = 100 machine).

SSD =

3 Profile Type Depth Filename

X Profile 1/2(R90)

Y Profile 1/2(R90)

X Profile R90

X Profile R70

X Profile R50

X Profile Rp + 2 cm
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Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Physics Data Worksheets 137

8.34 Electron beam measured data worksheet 3

8.34 Electron beam measured data worksheet 3

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Energy:

The following profiles must be measured in air. These profiles do not need
to be imported into Pinnacle3.

Cone Size =

3 Profile Type SSD Filename

X Profile SSD = SAD

Y Profile SSD = SAD

X Profile SSD = SAD + 5

Y Profile SSD = SAD + 5

X Profile SSD = SAD + 10

Y Profile SSD = SAD + 10

X Profile SSD = SAD + 15

Y Profile SSD = SAD + 15

X Profile SSD = SAD + 20

Y Profile SSD = SAD + 20

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Electron beam measured data worksheet 4 8.35

8.35 Electron beam measured data worksheet 4

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Energy:

Drift Distance: cm

This is the distance between the collimator and the surface of the phantom
for the standard setup SSD.
Cutout Material Photon Transmission Factor
Determine the photon dose transmitted through the cutout material. The
ratio of the blocked field dose to the open field dose is the cutout material
photon transmission factor.

Dose Rp + 2 cm blocked field

Cutout material transmission factor = --------------------------------------------------------
Dose Rp + 2 cm open field

3 Profile Type Setup Depth Dose

Point Dose 10 cm x 10 cm open field, SSD =SAD Rp + 2 cm

Point Dose 10 cm x 10 cm blocked field, SSD = SAD Rp + 2 cm

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Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Physics Data Worksheets 139

8.36 Electron beam measured data worksheet 5

8.36 Electron beam measured data worksheet 5

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Energy:

Off-Axis Ratio Worksheet

Energy: Cone Size: Profile: X Y

Position Measure Value Computed Value Off-axis Ratio

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Electron output factors worksheet 1 8.37

8.37 Electron output factors worksheet 1

Physicist: Date:

Machine name:

Energy:

N OT E The field sizes listed on this worksheet are the recommended sizes for a standard set
of electron output factors. If necessary, collect data for smaller field sizes to
accommodate smaller output factors in the individual cones.

Reference output factor measurement

Setting Value

Calibration point depth (cm)

Source to calibration point distance (cm)

Dose/MU at calibration point (cGy/MU)

Relative output factor measurements

Depth (cm): Same as calibration point depth.
N OT E You may want to measure a SSD less than 100 cm (98 cm, for example). Patient
curvature or other factors can cause the SSD can be slightly less than 100 cm, and
MUs will not be calculated in these situations unless you have measured an SSD less
than 100 cm.
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Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Physics Data Worksheets 141

8.37 Electron output factors worksheet 1

SSD Cone Size Field Size Relative Output Factor

(cm) (cm) (cm) Nominal Energies (MeV)

6 9 12 15 18 20

100 6x6 2x2

3x3

4x4

6x6

10 x 10 3x3

4x4

6x6

8x8

10 x 10

15 x 15 3x3

4x4

6x6

8x8

10 x 10

12 x 12

15 x 15

20 x 20 4x4

6x6

8x8

10 x 10

12 x 12

15 x 15

18 x 18

20 x 20

25 x 25 4x4

6x6
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8x8

10 x 10

12 x 12

15 x 15

18 x 18

20 x 20

25 x 25

142 Physics Data Worksheets Pinnacle 3 Release 9

Electron output factors worksheet 1 8.37

SSD Cone Size Field Size Relative Output Factor

(cm) (cm) (cm) Nominal Energies (MeV)

6 9 12 15 18 20

105 6x6 2x2

3x3

4x4

6x6

10 x 10 3x3

4x4

6x6

8x8

10 x 10

15 x 15 3x3

4x4

6x6

8x8

10 x 10

12 x 12

15 x 15

20 x 20 4x4

6x6

8x8

10 x 10

12 x 12

15 x 15

18 x 18

20 x 20
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25 x 25 4x4

6x6

8x8

10 x 10
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12 x 12

15 x 15

18 x 18

20 x 20

25 x 25

Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Physics Data Worksheets 143

8.37 Electron output factors worksheet 1

SSD Cone Size Field Size Relative Output Factor

(cm) (cm) (cm) Nominal Energies (MeV)

6 9 12 15 18 20

110 6x6 2x2

3x3

4x4

6x6

10 x 10 3x3

4x4

6x6

8x8

10 x 10

15 x 15 3x3

4x4

6x6

8x8

10 x 10

12 x 12

15 x 15

20 x 20 4x4

6x6

8x8

10 x 10

12 x 12

15 x 15

18 x 18

20 x 20

25 x 25 4x4

6x6
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8x8

10 x 10

12 x 12

15 x 15

18 x 18

20 x 20

25 x 25

144 Physics Data Worksheets Pinnacle 3 Release 9

Electron output factors worksheet 1 8.37

SSD Cone Size Field Size Relative Output Factor

(cm) (cm) (cm) Nominal Energies (MeV)

6 9 12 15 18 20

115 6x6 2x2

3x3

4x4

6x6

10 x 10 3x3

4x4

6x6

8x8

10 x 10

15 x 15 3x3

4x4

6x6

8x8

10 x 10

12 x 12

15 x 15

20 x 20 4x4

6x6

8x8

10 x 10

12 x 12

15 x 15

18 x 18

20 x 20
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25 x 25 4x4

6x6

8x8

10 x 10
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12 x 12

15 x 15

18 x 18

20 x 20

25 x 25

Pinnacle 3 Release 9 Physics Data Worksheets 145

8.37 Electron output factors worksheet 1

SSD Cone Size Field Size Relative Output Factor

(cm) (cm) (cm) Nominal Energies (MeV)

6 9 12 15 18 20

120 6x6 2x2

3x3

4x4

6x6

10 x 10 3x3

4x4

6x6

8x8

10 x 10

15 x 15 3x3

4x4

6x6

8x8

10 x 10

12 x 12

15 x 15

20 x 20 4x4

6x6

8x8

10 x 10

12 x 12

15 x 15

18 x 18

20 x 20

25 x 25 4x4

6x6
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8x8

10 x 10

12 x 12

15 x 15

18 x 18

20 x 20

25 x 25

146 Physics Data Worksheets Pinnacle 3 Release 9