MANDIBLE DOSE COMPARISON BETWEEN FOTELP-VOX SIMULATIONS AND IMRT IN HEAD AND NECK RADIOTHERAPY

Abstract

Determining the absorbed dose of scattered radiation in specific body organs and tissues during radiotherapy is crucial for minimizing potential damage. This study investigates whether the FOTELP-VOX Monte Carlo simulation software can accurately estimate the absorbed dose in the mandible of patients undergoing head and neck radiotherapy, and how closely these estimates align with expert-verified IMRT treatment plans. As a representative clinical scenario, the analysis focused on ten patients with parotid gland tumors, whose treatment plans were generated using the IMRT planning system at the Clinical Center. The dosimetric parameters analyzed include minimum dose, maximum dose, and mean dose to the mandible. The average mandibular volume was 60 ± 15 cm³. Dose differences between FOTELP-VOX simulations and IMRT ranged from 5% to 8%, indicating good agreement even without prior expert adjustment. These results suggest that the absorbed dose to the mandible remains within acceptable limits, although careful planning remains essential to minimizing unnecessary exposure. The findings support the potential use of FOTELP-VOX as a supplementary dosimetric tool for quality assurance, particularly in estimating scattered dose to critical structures adjacent to the target volume. The simulation outcomes confirmed the software’s capability to generate accurate three-dimensional dose distributions resulting from particle interactions within complex anatomical structures. Further improvements and clinical validation are necessary to enhance the robustness and clinical integration of this approach.