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Measurement of absorbed dose to water around an electronic brachytherapy source: Comparison of two dosimetry systems: lithium formate EPR dosimeters and radiochromic EBT2 film
Linköping University, Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Division of Radiological Sciences. Linköping University, Faculty of Health Sciences.
Department of Radiation Oncology (MAASTRO), GROW – School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center, The Netherlands.
Department of Radiation Oncology (MAASTRO), GROW – School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University Medical Center, The Netherlands.
Linköping University, Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Division of Radiological Sciences. Linköping University, Faculty of Health Sciences.
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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. Vol. 60, no 9, p. 3869-3882
Keywords [en]
Electronic brachytherapy, EPR, lithium formate, radiochromic film, intrinsic efficiency
National Category
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-111090DOI: 10.1088/0031-9155/60/9/3869ISI: 000354104700030OAI: oai:DiVA.org:liu-111090DiVA, id: diva2:753206
Available from: 2014-10-07 Created: 2014-10-07 Last updated: 2021-10-13Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Lithium formate EPR dosimetry for accurate measurements of absorbed dose in radiotherapy
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Lithium formate EPR dosimetry for accurate measurements of absorbed dose in radiotherapy
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:nbn:se:liu:diva-111091 (URN)10.3384/diss.diva-111091 (DOI)978-91-7519-246-8 (ISBN)
Public defence
2014-11-06, Eken, ingång 65, plan 9, Campus US, Linköpings universitet, Linköping, 09:00 (English)
Opponent
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Available from: 2014-10-07 Created: 2014-10-07 Last updated: 2021-10-13Bibliographically approved

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Adolfsson, EmelieLund, EvaGustafsson, HåkanCarlsson Tedgren, ÅsaAlm Carlsson, Gudrun

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Adolfsson, EmelieLund, EvaGustafsson, HåkanCarlsson Tedgren, ÅsaAlm Carlsson, Gudrun
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