Simulation of the shielding effects of an applicator on the AAPM TG-43 parameters of CS-137 Selectron LDR brachytherapy sources

Background: The dose rate distribution delivered by a low dose rate 137Cs pellet source, a spherical source used within the source trains of the Selectron gynecological brachytherapy system, was investigated using the MCNP4C Monte Carlo code. Materials and Methods: The calculations were performed in both water and Plexiglas and the absolute dose rate distribution for a single pellet source and the AAPM TG-43 parameters were computed. A spherical phantom with dimensions large enough (60 cm) was used to provide full scattering conditions. In order to score dose at different distances from the source centre, this sphere was divided into a set of 600 concentric spherical shells of 0.05 cm thickness. The calculations were performed up to a distance of 10 cm from the source centre. To calculate the effect of the applicator and dummy pellets on dose rate constant and radial dose function, a single pellet source was simulated inside the vaginal applicator, and spherical tally cells with radius of 0.05 cm were used in the simulations. The F6 tally was used to score the absolute dose rate at a given point in the phantom. Results: The dose rate constant for a single active pellet was found to be 1.102±0.007 cGyh-1U-1, and the dose rate constant for an active pellet inside the applicator was 1.095±0.009 cGyh-1U-1. The tabulated data and 5th order polynomial fit coefficients for the radial dose function along with the dose rate constant are provided for both cases. The effect of applicator and dummy pellets on anisotropy function of the source was also investigated. Conclusion: The error resulting from ignoring the applicator was reduced using the data of a single pellet. The results indicate that F(r, θ) decreases towards the applicator. Iran. J. Radiat. Res., 2009 7 (3): 135-140