title: Comparison of a finite-element multigroup discrete-ordinates code with Monte Carlo for radiotherapy calculations.
abstract: Radiotherapy calculations often involve complex geometries such as interfaces between materials of vastly differing atomic number, such as lung, bone and/or air interfaces. Monte Carlo methods have been used to calculate accurately the perturbation effects of the interfaces. However, these methods can be computationally expensive for routine clinical calculations. An alternative approach is to solve the Boltzmann equation deterministically. We present one such deterministic code, Attila. Further, we computed a brachytherapy example and an external beam benchmark to compare the results with data previously calculated by MCNPX and EGS4. Our data suggest that the presented deterministic code is as accurate as EGS4 and MCNPX for the transport geometries examined in this study.
authors.affiliation: The University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center, Box 1202, 1220 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030, USA. kagifford@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Kent A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Gifford
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Horton
authors.forename: Todd A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Wareing
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Failla
authors.forename: Firas
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mourtada
mesh_terms: D001822:Body Burden; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000379:methods*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D012062:Relative Biological Effectiveness; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D012984:Software; D012986:Software Validation