In its present configuration, tomotherapy uses three fixed different field widths (5, 2.5 and 1 cm), limiting the control of the longitudinal modulation. This can be overcome by allowing the jaws to move dynamically. The goals of this study are : 1) describe the implementation of the dynamic jaws feature in TomoPen, a Monte Carlo (MC) based model; 2) provide a detailed knowledge of the dosimetric issues with small field deliveries including output factors and potential linac displacements. The new TomoPen model includes a validated method for arbitrary jaw openings (Sterpin et al 2010, Radiother. Oncol. 94) and new input/output interface allowing variable couch speed and jaw openings. The model was first used to compute dose/FW in a water phantom for a 10 cm x FW field scanned to deliver a “10 x 10 cm2 field”, normalized to dose/FW obtained for a same “field” but delivered using a 10x5 cm² beam (FW is the nominal longitudinal field width). Measurements using Exradin A1SL ion chamber were performed and compared to simulations of three positions of the source: centred, 0.3 mm and 1 mm off-axis (see Figure 1). Moreover, a simple dynamic jaws delivery in the “cheese” phantom that includes two cylindrical targets longitudinally separated by 2.0 cm was simulated. The plan was delivered in two modes: 1) asymmetric jaw opening and fixed table speed; 2) symmetric jaw opening and variable table speed. Dose distributions were compared to convolution/superposition and measurements (in progress) with EDR-2 films according to recommended TomoTherapy procedures. Results are shown in figure 2 with excellent agreement (2%/1mm). The new version of TomoPen showed its ability to compute dynamic jaws-couch tomotherapy treatments. The effect of source displacements on treatment head output was also investigated, demonstrating the need of source position verification when small fields are used.
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Sterpin, E., Vynckier, S., & et al. (2011). Dosimetric challenges of dynamic jaws Tomotherapy: A Monte Carlo study. International Conference on Tomotherapy, Heidelberg, Germany. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/58079