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Lithium formate EPR dosimetry for accurate measurements of absorbed dose in radiotherapy
Linköping University, Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Division of Radiological Sciences. Linköping University, Faculty of Health Sciences.
2014 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Lithium formate has shown to be a material with properties suitable for electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) dosimetry, among them up to 7 times higher sensitivity compared to alanine, which is a well-established EPR detector material for dose determinations in radiotherapy.

The aim of this thesis was to further investigate the properties of lithium formate and develop the dosimetry system towards applications in radiotherapy. The intrinsic efficiency for energies of relevance to brachytherapy and the signal stability were investigated. The dosimetry system was expanded to include a smaller dosimeter model, suitable for measurements in dose gradient regions. An individual sensitivity correction method was applied to the smaller dosimeters to be able to perform dose determinations with the same precision as for the larger ones. EPR dosimetry in general is time consuming and effort was spent to optimize the signal readout procedure regarding measurement time and measurement precision.

The system was applied in two clinical applications chosen for their high demands on the dosimetry system: 1) a dosimetry audit for external photon beam therapy and 2) dose verification measurements around a low energy HDR brachytherapy source.

The conclusions drawn from this thesis were: dose determinations can be performed with a standard uncertainty of 1.8-2.5% using both the original size dosimeters and the new developed smaller ones. The dosimetry system is robust and useful for applications when high measurement precision and accuracy is prioritized. It is a good candidate for dosimetry audits, both in external beam therapy and brachytherapy.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Linköping: Linköping University Electronic Press, 2014. , p. 51
Series
Linköping University Medical Dissertations, ISSN 0345-0082 ; 1417
National Category
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-111091DOI: 10.3384/diss.diva-111091ISBN: 978-91-7519-246-8 (print)OAI: oai:DiVA.org:liu-111091DiVA, id: diva2:753225
Public defence
2014-11-06, Eken, ingång 65, plan 9, Campus US, Linköpings universitet, Linköping, 09:00 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2014-10-07 Created: 2014-10-07 Last updated: 2021-10-13Bibliographically approved
List of papers
1. Response of lithium formate EPR dosimeters at photon energies relevant to the dosimetry of brachytherapy
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Response of lithium formate EPR dosimeters at photon energies relevant to the dosimetry of brachytherapy
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2010 (English)In: Medical physics (Lancaster), ISSN 0094-2405, Vol. 37, no 9, p. 4946-4959Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

PURPOSE:

To investigate experimentally the energy dependence of the detector response of lithium formate EPR dosimeters for photon energies below 1 MeV relative to that at 60Co energies. High energy photon beams are used in calibrating dosimeters for use in brachytherapy since the absorbed dose to water can be determined with high accuracy in such beams using calibrated ion chambers and standard dosimetry protocols. In addition to any differences in mass-energy absorption properties between water and detector, variations in radiation yield (detector response) with radiation quality, caused by differences in the density of ionization in the energy imparted (LET), may exist. Knowledge of an eventual deviation in detector response with photon energy is important for attaining high accuracy in measured brachytherapy dose distributions.

METHODS:

Lithium formate EPR dosimeters were irradiated to known levels of air kerma in 25-250 kV x-ray beams and in 137Cs and 60Co beams at the Swedish Secondary Standards Dosimetry Laboratory. Conversions from air kerma free in air into values of mean absorbed dose to the detectors were made using EGSnrc MC simulations and x-ray energy spectra measured or calculated for the actual beams. The signals from the detectors were measured using EPR spectrometry. Detector response (the EPR signal per mean absorbed dose to the detector) relative to that for 60Co was determined for each beam quality.

RESULTS:

Significant decreases in the relative response ranging from 5% to 6% were seen for x-ray beams at tube voltages < or = 180 kV. No significant reduction in the relative response was seen for 137Cs and 250 kV x rays.

CONCLUSIONS:

When calibrated in 60Co or MV photon beams, corrections for the photon energy dependence of detector response are needed to achieve the highest accuracy when using lithium formate EPR dosimeters for measuring absorbed doses around brachytherapy sources emitting photons in the energy range of 20-150 keV such as 169Yb and electronic sources.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
American Association of Physicists in Medicine, 2010
Keywords
lithium formate EPR, brachytherapy, dosimetry, detector response, kV x rays
National Category
Medical and Health Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-59955 (URN)10.1118/1.3475938 (DOI)000281906000046 ()20964214 (PubMedID)
Available from: 2010-10-01 Created: 2010-10-01 Last updated: 2021-10-13Bibliographically approved
2. Investigation of signal fading in lithium formate EPR dosimeters using a new sensitive method
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Investigation of signal fading in lithium formate EPR dosimeters using a new sensitive method
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2012 (English)In: Physics in Medicine and Biology, ISSN 0031-9155, E-ISSN 1361-6560, Vol. 57, no 8, p. 2209-2217Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

The aim of this study was to investigate signal fading in lithium formate electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) dosimeters used for clinical applications in radiotherapy. A new experimental method for determination of signal fading, designed to resolve small changes in signal from slowly decaying unstable radicals, was used. Possible signal fading in lithium formate due to different storage temperatures was also tested. Air humidity was kept at a constant level of 33% throughout the experiments. The conclusion drawn from the investigations was that the EPR signal from lithium formate is stable during at least 1 month after irradiation and is not sensitive to variations in storage temperature andlt;40 degrees C when kept at a relative air humidity of 33%. This makes lithium formate a suitable dosimeter for transfer dosimetry in clinical audits.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Institute of Physics (IOP), 2012
National Category
Medical and Health Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-77095 (URN)10.1088/0031-9155/57/8/2209 (DOI)000302567100008 ()22456424 (PubMedID)
Note

Funding Agencies|Swedish Cancer foundation (CF)|100443|FORSS|86231|

Available from: 2012-05-04 Created: 2012-05-04 Last updated: 2021-10-13Bibliographically approved
3. Optimisation of an EPR dosimetry system for robust and high precision dosimetry
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Optimisation of an EPR dosimetry system for robust and high precision dosimetry
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2014 (English)In: Radiation Measurements, ISSN 1350-4487, E-ISSN 1879-0925, Vol. 70, p. 21-28Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Clinical applications of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) dosimetry systems demand high accuracy causing time consuming analysis. The need for high spatial resolution dose measurements in regions with steep dose gradients demands small sized dosimeters. An optimization of the analysis was therefore needed to limit the time consumption. The aim of this work was to introduce a new smaller lithium formate dosimeter model (diameter reduced from standard diameter 4.5 mm to 3 mm and height from 4.8 mm to 3 mm). To compensate for reduced homogeneity in a batch of the smaller dosimeters, a method for individual sensitivity correction suitable for EPR dosimetry was tested. Sensitivity and repeatability was also tested for a standard EPR resonator and a super high Q (SHQE) one. The aim was also to optimize the performance of the dosimetry system for better efficiency regarding measurement time and precision. A systematic investigation of the relationship between measurement uncertainty and number of readouts per dosimeter was performed. The conclusions drawn from this work were that it is possible to decrease the dosimeter size with maintained measurement precision by using the SHQE resonator and introducing individual calibration factors for dosimeter batches. It was also shown that it is possible reduce the number of readouts per dosimeter without significantly decreasing the accuracy in measurements.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2014
Keywords
EPR; ESR; Lithium formate; High precision dosimetry; High spatial resolution dosimetry
National Category
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-111088 (URN)10.1016/j.radmeas.2014.08.013 (DOI)000345110700005 ()
Available from: 2014-10-07 Created: 2014-10-07 Last updated: 2021-10-13Bibliographically approved
4. A system for remote dosimetry audit of 3D-CRT, IMRT and VMAT based on lithium formate dosimetry
Open this publication in new window or tab >>A system for remote dosimetry audit of 3D-CRT, IMRT and VMAT based on lithium formate dosimetry
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2014 (English)In: Radiotherapy and Oncology, ISSN 0167-8140, E-ISSN 1879-0887, Vol. 113, no 2, p. 279-282Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

The aim of this work was to develop and test a remote end-to-end audit system using lithium formate EPR dosimeters. Four clinics were included in a pilot study, absorbed doses determined in the PTV agreed with TPS calculated doses within ±5% for 3D-CRT and ±7% (k=1) for IMRT/VMAT dose plans.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2014
Keywords
Dosimetry audit; remote audit; end-to-end; EPR; ESR; lithium formate
National Category
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-111089 (URN)10.1016/j.radonc.2014.11.027 (DOI)000347657200021 ()
Available from: 2014-10-07 Created: 2014-10-07 Last updated: 2021-10-13Bibliographically approved
5. Measurement of absorbed dose to water around an electronic brachytherapy source: Comparison of two dosimetry systems: lithium formate EPR dosimeters and radiochromic EBT2 film
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Measurement of absorbed dose to water around an electronic brachytherapy source: Comparison of two dosimetry systems: lithium formate EPR dosimeters and radiochromic EBT2 film
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2015 (English)In: Physics in Medicine and Biology, ISSN 0031-9155, E-ISSN 1361-6560, Vol. 60, no 9, p. 3869-3882Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Interest in high dose rate (HDR) electronic brachytherapy operating at 50 kV is increasing. For quality assurance it is important to identify dosimetry systems that can measure the absorbed doses in absolute terms which is difficult in this energy region. In this work a comparison is made between two dosimetry systems, EPR lithium formate dosimeters and radiochromic EBT2 film.

Both types of dosimeters were irradiated simultaneously in a PMMA phantom using the Axxent EBS. Absorbed dose to water was determined at distances of 10 mm, 30 mm and 50 mm from the EBS. Results were traceable to different primary standards as regards to absorbed dose to water (EPR) and air kerma (EBT2). Monte Carlo simulations were used in absolute terms as a third estimate of absorbed dose to water.

Agreement within the estimated expanded (k = 2) uncertainties (5% (EPR), 7% (EBT2)) was found between the results at 30 mm and 50 mm from the x-ray source. The same result was obtained in 4 repetitions of irradiation, indicating high precision in the measurements with both systems. At all distances, agreement between EPR and Monte Carlo simulations was shown as was also the case for the film measurements at 30mm and 50mm. At 10mm the geometry for the film measurements caused too large uncertainty in measured values depending on the exact position (within sub-mm distances) of the EBS and the 10 mm film results were exculded from comparison.

This work has demonstrated good performance of the lithium formate EPR dosimetry system in accordance with earlier experiments at higher photon energies (192Ir HDR brachytherapy). It was also highlighted that there might be issues regarding the energy dependence and intrinsic efficiency of the EBT2 film that need to be considered for measurements using low energy sources.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Institute of Physics Publishing (IOPP), 2015
Keywords
Electronic brachytherapy, EPR, lithium formate, radiochromic film, intrinsic efficiency
National Category
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-111090 (URN)10.1088/0031-9155/60/9/3869 (DOI)000354104700030 ()
Available from: 2014-10-07 Created: 2014-10-07 Last updated: 2021-10-13Bibliographically approved

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