Monte Carlo dosimetry with PENELOPE code of the VariSource VS2000 192Ir high dose rate brachytherapy source

Abstract

Recommendations of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine TG-43U1 report have been followed to characterize the Varisource VS2000 192Ir high dose rate brachytherapy source, provided by Varian Oncology Systems. Monte Carlo calculations with PENELOPE code have been carried out in order to obtain dosimetric parameters for this source: air kerma strength, dose rate constant, radial dose function and anisotropy function. These quantities are compared to the source reference data, finding results in agreement with them taking respective uncertainties into account. Outcomes stated in this paper provide a complete parameter collection, which can be used for dosimetric calculations as well as a means of comparison with other datasets from this source © 2009 Springer-Verlag.