Dosimetric verification of treatment planning system superficial dose calculations for proton beam

To investigate the accuracy of Eclipse treatment planning system (TPS) dose calculations at the surface. It is desirable to know the accuracy of the proton treatment planning system in predicting dose at superficial region. All measurements were performed in a clinical proton beam at the National Cancer Center in Korea. Proton treatment plans were developed for a superficial planning target volume (PTV) contoured on a cylindrical polymethylmethacrylate phantom specially designed for this study. Dose was then measured at the surface and also in the PTV for these treatment plans and compared against the TPS calculations. For our study, a model GD-301 glass dosimeters were used. The proton treatment planning system overestimated the superficial dose without use of bolus as much as by 7–14% when compared to glass dosimeter. On the other hand, with use of bolus to cover the superficial region, surface dose between the calculation from Eclipse and measurement using the glass dosimeter are approximately within 3%.

► We investigated the accuracy of dose calculated by the proton planning system.
► The proton treatment planning system overestimated the superficial dose.
► It is recommended that bolus be added for these clinical cases.