title: The scaling method applied to beta particle line sources with a finite diameter.
abstract: The well-known scaling method for planar and punctiform beta particle sources is extended to the case of a cylindrical source with a length larger than the beta particle range times two and with an infinitesimal or finite diameter. The equation for a spherical source with a finite diameter is also given. As a means of illustration, previously measured and simulated radial depth-dose distributions of a 40-mm-long prototype 188W/188Re intravascular beta source in polymethylmethacrylate are scaled to H2O and compared with simulations in the latter medium. The results suggest that the scaling method is accurate to within about 3%, provided that the finite diameter of the source is taken into account.
authors.affiliation: Interfaculty Reactor Institute, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlands. schaart@iri.tudelft.nl
authors.forename: Dennis R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Schaart
mesh_terms: D001610:Beta Particles; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D018499:Linear Energy Transfer; D008954:Models, Biological; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011874:Radiometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000532:radiotherapy; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D014867:Water; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate