Technical note: Evaluation of the dose enhancement effect for a novel transmission‐type x‐ray tube using the Monte Carlo method
Chin‐Hsiung Lin, Chin‐Hui Wu, Yuan‐Chun Lai, Ho‐Da Chuang, Ching‐Yu Hsiao, Ni‐Shan Wu, Shao‐Chun Tseng, Chen‐Ju Feng, Shih‐Ming Hsu- General Medicine
Abstract
Purpose
Transmission‐target x‐ray tubes generate more x‐rays than reflection thick‐target x‐ray tubes. A transmission x‐ray tube combined with radiosensitizers has a better radiation enhancement effect. This study investigated the feasibility of using a transmission x‐ray tube with radiosensitizers in clinical radiotherapy and its effect on radiation dose enhancement.
Methods
This study used MCNP6.2 to simulate the model of a transmission x‐ray tube and Co‐60 beam. The radiation enhancement effect of radiosensitizers was examined with iodine‐127 (I‐127), radioiodinated iododeoxyuridine (IUdR), and gold nanoparticles (GNPs).
Results
The study results showed that the dose enhancement factor (DEF) of the transmission x‐ray tube with GNPs was 10.27, which was higher than that of I‐127 (6.46) and IUdR (3.08). The DEF of the Co‐60 beam with GNPs, I‐127, and IUdR was 1.23, 1.19, and 1.2, respectively. The Auger electron flux of the transmission x‐ray tube with GNPs was 1.19E+05 particles/cm2.
Conclusions
This study found that a transmission x‐ray tube with appropriate radiosensitizers could produce a high rate of Auger electrons to fulfill the radiation enhancement effect, and this procedure has the potential to become a radiotherapy modality.