A study of the dosimetry of iodine-125 seed interstitial implants using Monte Carlo simulation methods

Monte Carlo simulation methods were used to investigate the absorbed dose distribution around several preliminary source configurations and the 3M Company models 6701, 6702, and 6711 I-125 seeds in water. Simulations for the preliminary sources, all of which were structurally simpler than the seeds, were conducted to demonstrate correct behavior of the computer software. The relative dose distribution of the three seed models were found to be anisotropic, and distinct. Observed differences in the relative dose distributions of the three models are attributable to differences in seed design and photon emission spectrum. Variations in end weld thicknesses and radioactivity distributions within the seeds were found to have substantial influence on the relative dose distributions. Dosimetry estimates along the longitudinal axis of the seeds are particularly uncertain due to such variation. Finally, perturbations of the single seed dose distribution created by neighboring seeds within the implant were determined. Such perturbations are strongly dependent on the seed model used and on the separation between seeds. Simple superposition of single seed dose distributions in multiple seed implants causes overestimation of dose within seed planes. Errors may be quite large for single plane implants with small seed separations