title: Simultaneous production of mixed electron--photon beam in a medical LINAC: A feasibility study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The electron or photon beams might be used for treatment of tumors. Each beam has its own advantage and disadvantages. Combo beam can increase the advantages. No investigation has been performed for producing simultaneous mixed electron and photon beam. In current study a device has been added to the Medical Linac to produce a mixed photon-electron beam.
  
  
  METHODS
  Firstly a Varian 2300CD head was simulated by MCNP Monte Carlo Code. Two sets of perforated lead sheets with 1 and 2 mm thickness and 0.2, 0.3, and 0.5 cm punches then placed at the top of the applicator holder tray. This layer produces bremsstrahlung x-ray upon impinging fraction electrons on it. The remaining fraction of electrons passes through the holes. The simulation was performed for 10 × 10, 6 × 6, and 4 × 4 cm(2) field size.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For 10 × 10 cm(2) field size, among the punched targets, the largest penumbra difference between the depth of 1 and 7 cm was 72%. This difference for photon and electron beams were 31% and 325% respectively. A maximum of 39% photon percentage was produced by 2 mm target with 0.2 cm holes diameter layer. The minimum surface dose value was 4% lesser than pure electron beam. For small fields, unlike the pure electron beam, the PDD, penumbra, and flatness variations were negligible.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The advantages of mixing the electron and photon beam is reduction of pure electron's penumbra dependency with the depth, especially for small fields, also decreasing of dramatic changes of PDD curve with irradiation field size.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Radiation Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Navid
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khaledi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Imam Hossein Hospital, Shahid Beheshti Medical University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Azim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arbabi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Radiation Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: dariush.sardari@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Dariush
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sardari
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics, Hamedan Medical University, Hamedan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Imam Hossein Hospital, Shahid Beheshti Medical University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ameri
mesh_terms: D004583:Electrons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D010315:Particle Accelerators / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017785:Photons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Medical LINAC; Mixed beam; Monte Carlo; Radiation therapy; Small fields