A dosimetric comparison of versus for HDR prostate brachytherapy

For the purpose of evaluating the use of for prostate High Dose Rate brachytherapy (HDR), a hypothetical source is assumed with the exact same design of the new microSelectron source replacing the active core by pure metal. Monte Carlo simulation is employed for the full dosimetric characterization of both sources and results are compared following the AAPM TG‐43 dosimetric formalism. Monte Carlo calculated dosimetry results are incorporated in a commercially available treatment planning system , which features an inverse treatment planning option based on a multiobjective dose optimization engine. The quality of prostate HDR brachytherapy using the real and hypothetical source is compared in a comprehensive analysis of different prostate implants in terms of the multiobjective dose optimization solutions as well as treatment quality indices such as Dose Volume Histograms (DVH) and the Conformal Index (COIN). Given that scattering overcompensates for absorption in intermediate photon energies and distances in the range of interest to prostate HDR brachytherapy, proves at least equivalent to irrespective of prostate volume. This has to be evaluated in view of the shielding requirements for the energies that are minimal relative to that for .