Monte Carlo calculations and measurement of photon beams shaped by multileaf collimators in radiation therapy

A model based on Monte Carlo techniques is developed to transport ionising radiation through the radiation head of a 6MV linear accelerator fitted with multileaf collimators. Major emphasis is given to the detailed geometrical description of the multileaf collimator. The model produces dose distributions in water from photon beams defined by the jaws and the multileaf collimator. The model accounts for contaminant electrons in the photon beam, off-axis x-ray radiation originating at the collimator and the transmission and penumbra effects of the side planes and front face of the leaves in the multileaf collimator. Dose distributions in water calculated by the model are compared with experiment using ionisation chambers, diodes and film and found to be within 1.5%. The transmission and the penumbra of the multileaf collimator leaves calculated by the Monte Carlo model are compared with experiment and found to be in good agreement. (author)