Dosimetric verification of stereotactic body radiotherapy treatment plans for early stage non-small cell lung cancer using Monte Carlo simulation

This thesis is an evaluation of the dosimetric accuracy of the dose calculation algorithm used for planning of lung stereotactic body radiotherapy treatments. It specifically investigates the accuracy of the collapsed cone convolution algorithm employed in the Pinnacle3 Radiotherapy Treatment Planning System by using Monte Carlo techniques as an independent verification tool. The thesis also investigates the impact of dose calculation uncertainties on treatment outcome estimation through the use of radiobiological modelling