A convolution/superposition method using primary and scatter dose kernels formed for energy bins of X-ray spectra reconstructed as a function of off-axis distance: comparison of calculated and measured 10-MV X-ray doses in thorax-like phantoms.

ABSTRACT

We performed experimental studies on the convolution/superposition method reported in the former companion paper (Iwasaki in Radiol Phys Technol 4, 2011) using 10-MV X-ray beams from open-jaw-collimated fields. The method uses primary and scatter dose kernels formed for energy bins of X-ray spectra reconstructed as a function of off-axis distance. We made a comparison of calculations and measurements in water phantoms and thorax-like phantoms with respect to percentage depth dose curves, tissue-phantom ratio curves, and dose profiles. We made the dose calculation by taking into account the beam-hardening effect with depth and the off-axis radiation-softening effect. We found that the method could be used, in general, for performing accurate dose calculations.