title: Quantitative validation of the 3D SAR profile of hyperthermia applicators using the gamma method.
abstract: For quality assurance of hyperthermia treatment planning systems, quantitative validation of the electromagnetic model of an applicator is essential. The objective of this study was to validate a finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) model implementation of the Lucite cone applicator (LCA) for superficial hyperthermia. The validation involved (i) the assessment of the match between the predicted and measured 3D specific absorption rate (SAR) distribution, and (ii) the assessment of the ratio between model power and real-world power. The 3D SAR distribution of seven LCAs was scanned in a phantom bath using the DASY4 dosimetric measurement system. The same set-up was modelled in SEMCAD X. The match between the predicted and the measured SAR distribution was quantified with the gamma method, which combines distance-to-agreement and dose difference criteria. Good quantitative agreement was observed: more than 95% of the measurement points met the acceptance criteria 2 mm/2% for all applicators. The ratio between measured and predicted power absorption ranged from 0.75 to 0.92 (mean 0.85). This study shows that quantitative validation of hyperthermia applicator models is feasible and is worth considering as a part of hyperthermia quality assurance procedures.
authors.affiliation: Hyperthermia Unit, Department of Radiation Oncology, Erasmus MC-Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. m.debruijne.1@erasmusmc.nl
authors.forename: Maarten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Bruijne
authors.forename: Theodoros
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Samaras
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chavannes
authors.forename: Gerard C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: van Rhoon
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000818:Animals; D002138:Calibration; D055590:Electromagnetic Phenomena; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D011786:Quality Control; D012984:Software; D013696:Temperature; D013817:Thermography
chemical_list: D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate