Verification of the super-omni wedge concept

This study verifies the concept of the super-omni wedge by validating its e quations for effective wedge orientation and wedge angle and by comparing t he dose distributions it produces with those produced by other wedge techni ques. To validate the equations, we calculated dose distributions for 20 co mbinations of wedge orientations and wedge angles; we then determined the d ifferences between the wedge orientations and angles predicted by the equat ions and those calculated by a three-dimensional treatment-planning system. To compare the super-omni wedge concept with other techniques, we calculat ed the dose and position differences between the dose distributions produce d by the super-omni wedge concept and those produced by other wedge techniq ues. The error of wedge orientations ranged from -0.5 degrees to 0.4 degree s, and that of wedge angles ranged from -0.6 degrees to 1.7 degrees. The do se distributions produced by the super-omni wedge were similar and therefor e equivalent to those produced by other wedge techniques. Serving as an int ermediate step in treatment-planning optimization, the super-omni wedge is a reliable method for producing wedged dose distributions with arbitrary we dge orientations and wedge angles.