A Mathematic Method to Adjust MLC Leaf End Position for Accuracy Dose Calculation in Carbon Ion Beam Radiation Therapy Treatment Planning System

IntroductionWe present a mathematic method to adjust the leaf end position for dose calculation correction in carbon ion radiation therapy treatment planning system. Methods and MaterialsA struggling range algorism of 400 MeV/n carbon ion beam in nine different multi-leaf collimator (MLC) materials was conducted to calculate the dose 50% point in order to derive the offset corrections in carbon ion treatment planning system (ciPlan). The visualized light field edge position in treatment planning system is denoted as Xtang.p and MLC position (Xmlc.p) is defined as the source to leaf end mid-point projection on axis for monitor unit calculation. The virtual source position of an energy at 400 MeV/n and struggling range in MLC at different field sizes were used to calculate the dose 50% position on axis. On-axis MLC offset (correction) could then be obtained from the position corresponding to 50% of the central axis dose minus the Xmlc.p MLC position. ResultsThe precise MLC position in carbon ion treatment planning system can be used an offset to do the correction. The offset correction of pure tungsten is the smallest among the others due to its shortest struggling range of carbon ion beam in MLC. The positions of 50% dose of all MLC materials are always located in between Xtang.p and Xmlc.p under the largest field of 12 cm by 12 cm. ConclusionsMLC offset should be adjusted carefully at different field size in treatment planning system especially of its small penumbra characteristic in carbon ion beam. It is necessary to find out the dose 50% position for adjusting MLC leaf edge on-axis location in the treatment planning system to reduce dose calculation error.