Exploration of Monte Carlo Simulation from a Case Study of Particle Transport in the Gamma Knife Perfexion™ Machine

Document Type : Original Paper

Authors

1 Science, Social and Education Faculty, Universitas Prima Nusantara Bukittinggi, Jalan Gulai Bancah No. 99 Bukiitinggi 26122, Indonesia.

2 Science and Technology Faculty, Universitas PGRI Sumatera Barat, Jalan Gunung Pangilun, Kota Padang 25111, Indonesia

3 Gamma Knife Centre Indonesia, Siloam Hospital Lippo Village, Tangerang, Banten 15811, Indonesia

4 Science, Social and Education Faculty, Universitas Prima Nusantara Bukittinggi, Jalan Gulai Bancah No. 99 Bukiitinggi 22236, Indonesia

10.22038/ijmp.2025.82592.2457

Abstract

Introduction: Gamma Knife Perfexion™ delivers 192 Cobalt-60 sources to the focal point (isocenter), and the patient is fixed using a stereotactic frame. In conformal techniques, the width of the penumbra resulting in an out-of-field dose of normal tissue adjacent to the tumor must be accurately determined. The purpose of this study was to calculate the penumbra widths of a single beam and 192 beams for different collimator sizes of the Gamma Knife Perfexion™ using the BEAMNRC/DOSXYZNRC Monte Carlo simulation code and compare the results with EBT3 film dosimetry data.
Material and Methods: To investigate the physical penumbra width (80-20%), the single beam and 192 beam profiles were obtained using the DOSXYZNRC code and EBT3 films located at the isocenter point in a spherical solid water phantom with a diameter of 160 mm. 
Results: The results showed that the Gamma Passing Rate (GPR) value for all collimator sizes has a value above 97%. The single-beam penumbra widths obtained from simulation data for 4, 8, and 16 mm collimator sizes along the X-axis were 0.75, 0.77, and 0.87 mm, respectively. The data for 192 beams obtained from the simulation were 2.60, 4.80, and 8.70 mm along the X-axis.
Conclusion: The differences between measured and simulated penumbra widths are in an acceptable range. However, for more precise measurement in the penumbra region with a high dose gradient, a Monte Carlo simulation is recommended.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Iranian Journal of Medical Physics
Volume 22, Issue 3 - Serial Number 3
May and June 2025
Pages 171-184

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History

  • Receive Date: 17 November 2024
  • Revise Date: 21 July 2025
  • Accept Date: 22 July 2025

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