MABDOSE. I: Characterization of a general purpose dose estimation code

The MABDOSE software represents a general tool to perform internal radiatio n dosimetry. It uses a three-dimensional lattice in which to conduct radiat ion transport, scoring energy deposition in discrete voxels. The dosimetry system currently relies on the same algorithm used by the MIRD committee fo r photon transport, and assumes local deposition of particulate energy. A m athematical description of the dosimetry system's implementation is given. Additionally, a characterization of the system with respect to memory requi rements, data libraries used, and simulation timing benchmarks, is presente d. Validation of the software is presented in a companion manuscript. (C) 1 999 American Association of Physicists in Medicine. [S0094-2405(99)01107-4] .