ABSTRACT
In Medical Physics, Monte Carlo techniques provide the most powerful tool for modeling and analyzing radiation transport for radiation therapy, diagnostic imaging, and microdosimetry applications. In this regard, several general-purpose Monte Carlo codes have been developed, namely; Geant4, MCNP, EGS4/EGSnrc, PENELOPE, and FLUKA, which are discussed in this chapter. Moreover, limitations of the Monte Carlo techniques that constrain its use for clinical applications are highlighted. Considering the capability of Monte Carlo method in radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging to model complex systems by providing flexible and exceptionally powerful techniques, it can play a critical role for implementation of the forthcoming technology, such as linear energy transfer (LET)-based dose painting in proton therapy, designing complex beam delivery techniques for modulated electron therapy, and design and dosimetry in Magnetic Resonance–Linac systems.
