Plaque Simulator supports 2 dose profile data structures, one for linear profiles created in the 2D Planar dosimetry window, and another for circumferential profiles created in the Retinal diagram window. Each data structure supports up to 16 profiles. By default, the profiles document prints linear profiles on its first page and circumferential profiles on its second page. You may optionally disable either page via profiles preferences settings.
How do we use dose profiles? For example, lets say we want to compare dose to inner sclera for an EP vs a similar COMS plaque. The EP model 1821 plaque and the COMS 16 plaques have nearly identical face diameters (16.17 mm vs 16 mm). We Rx 85 Gy to the apex of an 11 x 11 x 5 mm tall tumor and create a circumferential dose profile on the inner sclera in the Retinal Diagram window that starts at a point on the inner sclera opposite the plaque centers and follows the inner sclera to an inner sclera point adjacent to the plaque centers. In the figure below the EP plaque 3D setup is on the left and the COMS plaque's 3D setup is on the right. The circumferential profile on the inner sclera is rendered as a red curve terminating with an arrowhead at the plaque center.
In the Dose Profiles window we can compare the dosimetry along these profiles and we find that the maximum dose to the inner sclera is substantially lower and coverage is more homogeneous between the center and the rim of the EP plaque compared to the similarly sized COMS plaque. The more homogeneous face coverage of EP plaques means we can Rx at lower altitudes compered to COMS plaques in order to assure adequate base coverage for tumors with very low apex elevations. Beyond the rim of the plaques we see that the EP plaque reduces dose to the inner sclera by roughly 25% between 19 and 24 mm of arc from the profile's origin point opposite the plaque's centers. This dose reduction results from the individual collimation of seeds near the rim of the EP plaque. In the figure below profile #1 is plotted in red (to distinguish it from other profiles which would use different colors) but the EP plaque curve features a grey tinted highlight whereas the COMS plaque's curve features a golden highlight tint.
Linear profiles are created in the 2D Planar dosimetry window. To enable profiles first click the Profiles button found in the toolbar along the top of the window. This will reveal the profile controls group. To enable one of the 16 profiles simply click its numbered control. In this example profile #1 has been enabled.
To customize a profile option-click on the numbered control or control-click (or right mouse click) the control to reveal a contextual menu and select the Properties... menu item. This will reveal the profile properties modal dialog sheet wherein you can name the profile and customize how it is plotted. In this example the profile has been named CAx depth dose and will plotted as a red vector with a terminating arrow as its end mark. The vector starts at the inner sclera adjacent to the plaque center and terminates at the inner sclera opposite the plaque center. This default central axis profile can be created quicly by simply clicking the Std. Plaque Center button. You may optionally manually enter 3D coordinates in eye coordinate space and/or use the interactive graphics to drag the profile's end points in the 2D Planar Dosimetry window in a manner similar to working with points of interest.
If you enable Print in the properties sheet you can calculate and plot the dose profile in the Dose Profiles window and to the profiles document. You may also optionally overlay profile calculations from the four plaque contexts to compare results.
To customize the plot range and axes appearance click the Axes... button found along the footer of the Dose Profiles window.
Additional customization is provided in the Document Settings... window's Profiles pane.
If you enable Show 3D in the properties sheet you can render the profile vector in the 3D Setup window.
Circumferential profiles are created in the Retinal Diagram window. To enable profiles first click the Profiles button found in the toolbar along the top of the window. This will reveal the profile controls group. To enable one of the 16 profiles simply click its numbered control. In this example profile #1 has been enabled.
To customize a profile option-click on the numbered control or control-click (or right mouse click) the control to reveal a contextual menu and select the Properties... menu item. This will reveal the profile properties modal dialog sheet wherein you can name the profile and customize how it is plotted. In this example the profile has been named RD profile 1 and will plotted as a red circumferential curve with a terminating arrow as its end mark. The vector starts at the inner sclera opposite the plaque center and follows the inner sclera to a point adjacent to the plaque center. This default circumferential profile can be created quicly by simply clicking the Std. Plaque Center button. You may optionally manually enter 3D coordinates in eye coordinate space and/or use the interactive graphics to drag the profile's end points and its curvature control point in the Retinal Diagram window in a manner similar to working with points of interest.
If you enable Print in the properties sheet you can calculate and plot the circumferential dose profile in the Dose Profiles window and to the profiles document. You may also optionally overlay profile calculations from the four plaque contexts to compare results.
If you enable Show 3D in the properties sheet you can render the profile curve in the 3D Setup window.