In Vivo Dosimetry of an Anthropomorphic Phantom Using the RADPOS for Proton Beam Therapy

The radiation positioning system (RADPOS) combines an electromagnetic positioning sensor with metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) dosimetry, enabling simultaneous online measurement of dose and spatial position. Evaluation points can be determined with the RADPOS. The accuracy of in-vivo proton dosimetry was evaluated using the RADPOS and an anthropomorphic head and neck phantom. MOSFET doses measured at 3D positions obtained with the RADPOS were compared with treatment plan values calculated using a simplified Monte Carlo (SMC) method. MOSFET responses, which depend strongly on the linear energy transfer of the proton beam, were corrected using the SMC method. The SMC method was used to calculate only dose deposition determined by the experimental depth-dose distribution and lateral displacement of protons due to the multiple scattering effect in materials and incident angle. This method thus enabled rapid calculation of accurate doses in even heterogeneities. In vivo dosimetry using the RADPOS, as well as MOSFET doses, agreed with SMC calculations in the range of −3.0% to 8.3%. Most measurement errors occurred because of uncertainties in dose calculations due to the 1-mm position error. The results indicate that uncertainties in measurement position can be controlled successfully within 1 mm when using the RADPOS with in-vivo proton dosimetry.