Background: Verification of dose calculation algorithms is important in the radiotherapy process.
Aim: The aim of this work is to verify the dose calculation accuracy of Acuros XB version 10 algorithm (AXB10) in homogenous and heterogeneous media.
Methods: We compared AXB10 calculated doses with the measured doses using thermo-luminescent dosimeters (TLD) for 6 MV photon beam. Two clinical cases, nasopharynx and lung tumors, were studied to evaluate the ability of the AXB10 to deal with tissue heterogeneity. Selected field sizes were measured in water phantom then compared with that calculated with the Eclipse treatment planning system (TPS) - based on AXB10 algorithm. Rando humanoid phantom was computerized tomography scanned and the images were transferred to the TPS system where a set of similar plans of a single direct field were calculated with AXB10, then the dose was measured within  the phantom using the TLD in the brain and lung regions. Lastly the measured and calculated data were compared.
Results: There was a good agreement between the measured fields in the water phantom and that calculated with the AXB10 (± 2%). The percentage difference between full Monte Carlo algorithm and AXB10 were 3% for the phantoms with lung.
Conclusion: Acuros XB algorithm (version 10) results are in agreement with the International Commission for Units and Measurements recommendations.