The ultimate check of the actual dose delivered to a patient in radiotherapy can only be achieved by using in vivo dosimetry. This work reports a pilot study to test the applicability of a thermoluminescent dosimetric system for performing in vivo entrance dose measurements in external photon beam radiotherapy. The measurements demonstrated the value of thermoluminescent dosimetry as a treatmen...

This work assesses the overall reproducibility and accuracy of an x-ray computed tomography (CT) polymer gel dosimetry (PGD) system using a N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) based polymer gel and investigated what effects the use of generic, inter-batch, and intra-batch gel calibration have on dosimetric and spatial accuracy. Overall excellent spatial and dosimetric accuracy was found with this sys...

In the present study, we describe a method based on the analysis of the dynamic MLC log files (DynaLog) generated by the controller of a Varian linear accelerator in order to perform patient-specific IMRT QA. The DynaLog files of a Varian Millennium MLC, recorded during an IMRT treatment, can be processed using a MATLAB-based code in order to generate the actual fluence for each beam and so rec...

This study analyses the thermally stimulated luminescence or thermoluminescence (TL) glow curve between 300 and 773 K of germanium-doped silica optical fibre. A main glow peak at 530 K with a characteristic spectral emission centred at 400 nm is found. Both features are particularly suitable for dosimetry. Thus, an investigation by the TL technique of some first clinically relevant features of ...

Introduction: Electronic portal imaging devices (EPIDs) are extensively used for dosimetric information of pre-treatment field verification and in-vivo dosimetry for Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT). In the present work, we have implemented the newly developed portal dosimetry software using independent dose prediction algorithm EPIDose and evaluated this new tool for the pretreatment IM...

BACKGROUND Clinical pathways outline criteria for dose homogeneity and critical organ dosimetry. Based upon an internal audit showing suboptimal compliance with dosimetric parameters in whole breast irradiation (WBI), we conducted a mandatory web-based teaching conference for the network. This study reports the impact of this initiative on subsequent treatment plans. METHODS Radiation treatme...

rachytherapy, the treatment of cancer patients by placing sealed radioactive elements at the short distances relative to the tumor, was born soon after Henri Becquerel’s discovery of radioactivity in Paris (1896) and Marie Curie’s discovery of radium (1898). However, within the past several years there have been great improvements in the technical aspect of the brachytherapy procedures (Blasko ...

BACKGROUND Low risk prostate cancers are commonly treated with low dose rate (LDR) brachytherapy involving I-125 seeds. The implementation of a 'live-planning' technique at the Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) in 2007 enabled the completion of the whole procedure (i.e. scanning, planning and implant) in one sitting. 'Live-planning' has the advantage of a more reliable delivery of the planned treat...

Abstract AlN is a wide band gap material with promising properties for dosimetric applications, especially in UV dosimetry. In the present research, thermoluminescence method used order to better understand sunlight and X-ray irradiation effects on yttria doped ceramics. general, TL response characterised by broad peak maxima around 400–450 K emission spectrum (400 nm), Blue (480 nm) Red (600 b...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE It is estimated that one third of the institutes applying clinical beta sources does not perform independent dosimetry. The Netherlands commission on radiation dosimetry (NCS) recently published recommended quality control procedures and detectors for the dosimetry of beta sources. The main issues of NCS Report 14 are summarized here. MATERIALS AND METHODS A dosimetry s...