Direct calibration in megavoltage photon beams using Monte Carlo conversion factor: validation and clinical implications

Characterisation of a synthetic diamond detector for end-to-end dosimetry in stereotactic body radiotherapy and radiosurgery

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Synthetic diamond detectors offer real time measurement of dose in radiotherapy applications which require high spatial resolution. Additional considerations and corrections are required for measurements where the diamond detector is orientated at various angles to the incident beam. This study investigated diamond detectors for end-to-end testing of Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) and Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) in the context of dosimetry audits.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Seven individual diamond detectors were investigated and compared with respect to warm up stability, dose-rate dependence, linearity, detector shadowing, energy response, cross-calibration, angular dependence and positional sensitivity in SBRT and SRS.

RESULTS

Large variation in the cross calibration factors was found between the seven individual detectors. For each detector, the energy dependence in the cross calibration factor was on average <0.6% across the beam qualities investigated (Co-60 Gamma Knife, and MV beams with TPR20,10 0.684-0.733). The angular corrections for individual fields were up to 5%, and varied with field size. However, the average angular dependence for all fields in a typical SRS treatment delivery was <1%. The overall measurement uncertainty was 3.6% and 3.1% (2σ) for an SRS and SBRT treatment plan respectively.

CONCLUSION

Synthetic diamond detectors were found to be reliable and robust for end-to-end dosimetry in SBRT and SRS applications. Orientation of the detector relative to the beam axis is an important consideration, as significant corrections are required for angular dependence.

Absolute dosimetry of a 1.5 T MR-guided accelerator-based high-energy photon beam in water and solid phantoms using Aerrow

PURPOSE

In this work, the fabrication, operation, and evaluation of a probe-format graphite calorimeter - herein referred to as Aerrow - as an absolute clinical dosimeter of high-energy photon beams while in the presence of a B = 1.5 T magnetic field is described. Comparable to a cylindrical ionization chamber (IC) in terms of utility and usability, Aerrow has been developed for the purpose of accurately measuring absorbed dose to water in the clinic with a minimum disruption to the existing clinical workflow. To our knowledge, this is the first reported application of graphite calorimetry to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided radiotherapy.

METHODS

Based on a previously numerically optimized and experimentally validated design, an Aerrow prototype capable of isothermal operation was constructed in-house. Graphite-to-water dose conversions as well as magnetic field perturbation factors were calculated using Monte Carlo, while heat transfer and mass impurity corrections and uncertainties were assessed analytically. Reference dose measurements were performed in the absence and presence of a B = 1.5 T magnetic field using Aerrow in the 7 MV FFF photon beam of an Elekta MRI-linac and were directly compared to the results obtained using two calibrated reference-class IC types. The feasibility of performing solid phantom-based dosimetry with Aerrow and the possible influence of clearance gaps is also investigated by performing reference-type dosimetry measurements for multiple rotational positions of the detector and comparing the results to those obtained in water.

RESULTS

In the absence of the B-field, as well as in the parallel orientation while in the presence of the B-field, the absorbed dose to water measured using Aerrow was found to agree within combined uncertainties with those derived from TG-51 using calibrated reference-class ICs. Statistically significant differences on the order of (2-4)%, however, were observed when measuring absorbed dose to water using the ICs in the perpendicular orientation in the presence of the B-field. Aerrow had a peak-to-peak response of about 0.5% when rotated within the solid phantom regardless of whether the B-field was present or not.

CONCLUSIONS

This work describes the successful use of Aerrow as a straightforward means of measuring absolute dose to water for large high-energy photon fields in the presence of a 1.5 T B-field to a greater accuracy than currently achievable with ICs. The detector-phantom air gap does not appear to significantly influence the response of Aerrow in absolute terms, nor does it contribute to its rotational dependence. This work suggests that the accurate use of solid phantoms for absolute point dose measurement is possible with Aerrow.

Uncertainty in positioning ion chamber at reference depth for various water phantoms

BACKGROUND

Uncertainty in the calibration of high-energy radiation sources is dependent on user and equipment type.

AIM

We evaluated the uncertainty in the positioning of a cylindrical chamber at a reference depth for reference dosimetry of high-energy photon beams and the resulting uncertainty in the chamber readings for 6- and 10-MV photon beams. The aim was to investigate major contributions to the positioning uncertainty to reduce the uncertainty in calibration for external photon beam radiotherapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The following phantoms were used: DoseView 1D, WP1D, 1D SCANNER, and QWP-07 as one-dimensional (1D) phantoms for a vertical-beam geometry; GRI-7632 as a phantom for a fixed waterproofing sleeve; and PTW type 41023 and QWP-04 as 1D phantoms for a horizontal-beam geometry. The uncertainties were analyzed as per the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement.

RESULTS

The positioning and resultant uncertainties in chamber readings ranged from 0.22 to 0.35 mm and 0.12-0.25%, respectively, among the phantoms (using a coverage factor k = 1 in both cases). The major contributions to positioning uncertainty are: definition of the origin for phantoms among users for the 1D phantoms for a vertical-beam geometry, water level adjustment among users for the phantom for a fixed waterproofing sleeve, phantom window deformation, and non-water material of the window for the 1D phantoms for a horizontal-beam geometry.

CONCLUSION

The positioning and resultant uncertainties in chamber readings exhibited minor differences among the seven phantoms. The major components of these uncertainties differed among the phantom types investigated.

Commissioning of a PTW 34070 large-area plane-parallel ionization chamber for small field megavoltage photon dosimetry

PURPOSE

This study investigates a large-area plane-parallel ionization chamber (LAC) for measurements of dose-area product in water (DAPw ) in megavoltage (MV) photon fields.

METHODS

Uniformity of electrode separation of the LAC (PTW34070 Bragg Peak Chamber, sensitive volume diameter: 8.16 cm) was measured using high-resolution microCT. Signal dependence on angle α of beam incidence for square 6 MV fields of side length s = 20 cm and 1 cm was measured in air. Polarity and recombination effects were characterized in 6, 10, and 18 MV photons fields. To assess the lateral setup tolerance, scanned LAC profiles of a 1 × 1 cm2 field were acquired. A 6 MV calibration coefficient, ND,w,LAC , was determined in a field collimated by a 5 cm diameter stereotactic cone with known DAPw . Additional calibrations in 10 × 10 cm2 fields at 6, 10, and 18 MV were performed.

RESULTS

Electrode separation is uniform and agrees with specifications. Volume-averaging leads to a signal increase proportional to ~1/cos(α) in small fields. Correction factors for polarity and recombination range between 0.9986 to 0.9996 and 1.0007 to 1.0024, respectively. Off-axis displacement by up to 0.5 cm did not change the measured signal in a 1 × 1 cm2 field. ND,w,LAC was 163.7 mGy cm-2 nC-1 and differs by +3.0% from the coefficient derived in the 10 × 10 cm2 6 MV field. Response in 10 and 18 MV fields increased by 1.0% and 2.7% compared to 6 MV.

CONCLUSIONS

The LAC requires only small correction factors for DAPw measurements and shows little energy dependence. Lateral setup errors of 0.5 cm are tolerated in 1 × 1 cm2 fields, but beam incidence must be kept as close to normal as possible. Calibration in 10 × 10 fields is not recommended because of the LAC's over-response. The accuracy of relative point-dose measurements in the field's periphery is an important limiting factor for the accuracy of DAPw measurements.