Are Water-Based Algorithms Still Adequate for Dose Calculation in Modern HDR Interventional Radiotherapy? A Review with Special Focus on 3D-Printed Applicators and Heterogeneous Materials
Background: High-dose-rate interventional radiotherapy (HDR IRT) relies on accurate dose calculations to ensure safe and effective treatment. The AAPM TG-43 formalism, based on homogeneous water assumptions, has long been the clinical standard, but the growing use of patient-specific applicators and heterogeneous materials challenges its accuracy. Materials and Methods: A literature narrative review was performed using PubMed and Scopus to identify studies comparing TG-43 and model-based dose calculation algorithms (MBDCAs), including deterministic methods (ACE, Acuros BV) and Monte Carlo simulations. Thirty-five studies were selected and qualitatively analyzed. Results: TG-43 yielded higher dose compared with MBDCAs, particularly in the presence of tissue heterogeneities, air gaps, shielding materials, and limited scatter conditions. Differences ranged from 2 to 5% in relatively homogeneous settings to more than 10–20% in complex geometries such as superficial mould treatments and head-and-neck IRT. Model-based approaches showed better agreement with Monte Carlo simulations and experimental measurements, especially in contact HDR IRT and applications involving 3D-printed applicators. Conclusion: While TG-43 remains clinically established and widely used, its limitations are increasingly evident in modern personalized HDR IRT. Model-based dose calculation algorithms provide greater dosimetric accuracy and should be progressively integrated into clinical practice, particularly in treatments involving significant heterogeneities.