Investigating the Impact of Knee Prosthesis in Patients’ Body on Radiation Dose Distribution: A Monte Carlo Approach

BACKGROUND: Metal prostheses in patients affect the radiotherapy dose distribution. Metal prostheses with high density and atomic number cause major changes in scattering and attenuation of radiation. The present study aims to assess the impact of metal knee prosthesis with various dimensions and materials on radiotherapy dose distribution. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this research, the Varian Linac and water phantom were simulated using the MCNPX code. Dose distribution of photon beam in a water phantom, with and without the presence of knee prostheses made of cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloy, steel, titanium, and titanium alloy used in men and women was investigated using the Monte Carlo simulation. RESULTS: The prosthesis led to an increase in dose in comparison with cases that there was used no prosthesis. According to values of the depth dose percentage, the maximum dose increase was found to be 6.8%, 6.1%, 4%, and 4.29%, and dose reduction 41.18%, 40.66%, 37.76%, and 37.51% for prosthetics with men’s knee dimensions made of cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloy, steel, titanium alloy, and titanium, respectively. Above all, does increasing to 6.4%, 5.9%, 3.8%, and 3.94% and doses reducing to 40.87%, 40.36%, 36.94%, and 36.69 were observed in prosthetics for women. The highest amount of dose reduction for men’s prostheses made of mentioned materials was found to be 48.75%, 47.7%, 45%, and 45.8%, respectively. In addition, it was 46.36%, 45.8%, 43.8%, and 43.95% for women’s prostheses, respectively. CONCLUSION: Material will have a significant impact if a part of the knee bone places behind the prosthesis. According to the obtained values, it is recommended to utilize prostheses made of titanium and titanium alloys for knee arthroplasty. The prosthesis can either increase or decrease dose in tumor or lead to increase dose at organs at risk.