Monte Carlo evaluation of specific dose constants in water for 125I seeds.

To clinically utilize relative three-dimensional dose distribution data for 125I seeds in water, the specific dose constant must be known. This constant is the ratio of absolute dose rate in medium, 1 cm from the source on its transverse bisector, to source strength. We have used the Monte Carlo method to calculate specific dose constants in water for three types of 125I seeds (models 6711, 6701, and 6702). Our photon transport code realistically models the complex internal structure of these interstitial sources as well as the exposure standardization experiments conducted at the National Bureau of Standards which form the basis of 125I source strength specification. In addition, relative attenuation factors for the three seed types are presented. Our results indicate that published data overestimate the specific dose constant by 10% to 14%.