Dosimetric characterization of the 60Co BEBIG Co0.A86 high dose rate brachytherapy source using PENELOPE

• Complete dosimetric characterization of the BEBIG Co0.A86 HDR Co-60 source with PENELOPE.
• Comparison between the two geometries used in previous works.
• Comparison with results quoted using other codes (Geant4, EGSnrc).

60Co sources are being used as an alternative to 192Ir sources in high dose rate brachytherapy treatments. In a recent document from AAPM and ESTRO, a consensus dataset for the 60Co BEBIG (model Co0.A86) high dose rate source was prepared by using results taken from different publications due to discrepancies observed among them. The aim of the present work is to provide a new calculation of the dosimetric characteristics of that 60Co source according to the recommendations of the AAPM and ESTRO report. Radial dose function, anisotropy function, air-kerma strength, dose rate constant and absorbed dose rate in water have been calculated and compared to the results of previous works. Simulations using the two different geometries considered by other authors have been carried out and the effect of the cable density and length has been studied.