Surface dose measurements with commonly used detectors: a consistent thickness correction method

Graphite foils as potential skin and epithelium dosimeters at therapeutic photon energies

This work builds upon a prior study, examining the dosimetric utility of pencil lead and thin graphitic sheets, focusing upon the measurement of skin doses within the mammographic regime. In recognizing the near soft-tissue equivalence of graphite and the earlier-observed favourable thermoluminescence yield of thin sheets of graphite, this has led to present study of 50 μm thick graphite for parameters typical of external beam fractionated radiotherapy and skin dose evaluations. The graphite layers were annealed and then stacked to form an assembly of 0.5 mm nominal thickness. Using a 6 MV photon beam and delivering doses from 2- to 60 Gy, irradiations were conducted, the assembly first forming a superficial layer to a solid water phantom and subsequently underlying a 1.5 cm bolus, seeking to circumvent the build-up to electronic equilibrium for skin treatments. Investigations were made of several dosimetric properties arising from the thermoluminescence yield of the 50 μm thick graphite slabs, in particular proportionality and sensitivity to dose. The results show excellent sensitivity within the dose range of interest, the thermoluminescence response varying with increasing depth through the stacked graphite layers, obtaining a coefficient of determination of 90%. Acknowledging there to be considerable challenge in accurately matching skin thickness with dose, the graphite sheets have nevertheless shown considerable promise as dosimeters of skin, sensitive in determination of dose from the surface of the graphite through to sub-dermal depth thicknesses.

Electron streaming dose measurements and calculations on a 1.5 T MR-Linac

PURPOSE

To evaluate the accuracy of different dosimeters and the treatment planning system (TPS) for assessing the skin dose due to the electron streaming effect (ESE) on a 1.5 T magnetic resonance (MR)-linac.

METHOD

Skin dose due to the ESE on an MR-linac (Unity, Elekta) was investigated using a solid water phantom rotated 45° in the x-y plane (IEC61217) and centered at the isocenter. The phantom was irradiated with 1 × 1, 3 × 3, 5 × 5, 10 × 10, and 22 × 22 cm2 fields, gantry at 90°. Out-of-field doses (OFDs) deposited by electron streams generated at the entry and exit surface of the angled phantom were measured on the surface of solid water slabs placed ±20.0 cm from the isocenter along the x-direction. A high-resolution MOSkin™ detector served as a benchmark due to its shallower depth of measurement that matches the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recommended depth for skin dose assessment (0.07 mm). MOSkin™ doses were compared to EBT3 film, OSLDs, a diamond detector, and the TPS where the experimental setup was modeled using two separate calculation parameters settings: a 0.1 cm dose grid with 0.2% statistical uncertainty (0.1 cm, 0.2%) and a 0.2 cm dose grid with 3.0% statistical uncertainty (0.2 cm, 3.0%).

RESULTS

OSLD, film, the 0.1 cm, 0.2%, and 0.2 cm, 3.0% TPS ESE doses, underestimated skin doses measured by the MOSkin™ by as much as -75.3%, -7.0%, -24.7%, and -41.9%, respectively. Film results were most similar to MOSkin™ skin dose measurements.

CONCLUSIONS

These results show that electron streams can deposit significant doses outside the primary field and that dosimeter choice and TPS calculation settings greatly influence the reported readings. Due to the steep dose gradient of the ESE, EBT3 film remains the choice for accurate skin dose assessment in this challenging environment.

Feasibility of determining external beam radiotherapy dose using LuSy dosimeter

INTRODUCTION

Radiation dose measurement is an essential part of radiotherapy to verify the correct delivery of doses to patients and ensure patient safety. Recent advancements in radiotherapy technology have highlighted the need for fast and precise dosimeters. Technologies like FLASH radiotherapy and magnetic-resonance linear accelerators (MR-LINAC) demand dosimeters that can meet their unique requirements. One promising solution is the plastic scintillator-based dosimeter with high spatial resolution and real-time dose output. This study explores the feasibility of using the LuSy dosimeter, an in-house developed plastic scintillator dosimeter for dose verification across various radiotherapy techniques, including conformal radiotherapy (CRT), intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT), and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A new dosimetry system, comprising a new plastic scintillator as the sensing material, was developed and characterized for radiotherapy beams. Treatment plans were created for conformal radiotherapy, IMRT, VMAT, and SRS and delivered to a phantom. LuSy dosimeter was used to measure the delivered dose for each plan on the surface of the phantom and inside the target volumes. Then, LuSy measurements were compared against an ionization chamber, MOSFET dosimeter, radiochromic films, and dose calculated using the treatment planning system (TPS).

RESULTS

For CRT, surface dose measurement by LuSy dosimeter showed a deviation of -5.5% and -5.4% for breast and abdomen treatment from the TPS, respectively. When measuring inside the target volume for IMRT, VMAT, and SRS, the LuSy dosimeter produced a mean deviation of -3.0% from the TPS. Surface dose measurement resulted in higher TPS discrepancies where the deviations for IMRT, VMAT, and SRS were -2.0%, -19.5%, and 16.1%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The LuSy dosimeter was feasible for measuring radiotherapy doses for various treatment techniques. Treatment delivery verification enables early error detection, allowing for safe treatment delivery for radiotherapy patients.

In search of a one plan solution for VMAT post-mastectomy chest wall irradiation

PURPOSE

This study was designed to evaluate skin dose in both VMAT and tangent treatment deliveries for the purpose of identifying suitable bolus use protocols that should produce similar superficial doses.

METHODS

Phantom measurements were used to investigate skin dose in chest wall radiotherapy with and without bolus for 3D and rotational treatment techniques. Optically stimulated luminescence dosimeters (OSLDs) with and without housing and EBT3 film were used. Superflab (3, 5, and 10 mm) and brass mesh were considered. Measured doses were compared with predictions by the Eclipse treatment planning system. Patient measurements were also performed and the bolusing effect of hospital gowns and blankets were highlighted. The effect of flash for VMAT plans was considered experimentally by using 2 mm couch shifts.

RESULTS

For tangents, average skin doses without bolus were 0.64 (EBT3), 0.62 (bare OSLD), 0.77 (jacketed OSLD), and 0.68 (Eclipse) as a fraction of prescription. For VMAT, doses without bolus were 0.53 (EBT3), 0.53 (bare OSLD), 0.64 (jacketed OSLD), and 0.60 (Eclipse). For tangents, the average doses with different boluses as measured by EBT3 were 0.99 (brass mesh), 1.02 (3 mm), 1.03 (5 mm), and 1.07 (10 mm). For VMAT with bolus, average doses as measured by EBT3 were 0.83 (brass), 0.96 (3 mm), 1.03 (5 mm), and 1.04 (10 mm). Eclipse doses agreed with measurements to within 5% of measurements for all Superflab thicknesses and within 15% of measurements for no bolus. The presence of a hospital gown and blanket had a bolusing effect that increased the surface dose by approximately 10%.

CONCLUSIONS

Results of this work allow for consideration of different bolus thicknesses, materials, and usage schedules based on desired skin dose and choice of either tangents or an arc beam techniques.

A more accurate and safer method for the measurement of scattered radiation in X-ray examination rooms

Advancements in and increasing usage of complex diagnostic examinations with interventional procedures and surgeries has led to an increase in the occupational radiation doses received by physicians and other medical staff. Measuring the scattered radiation doses received by these staff is vital for the development-effective radiation protection programs. In this study, we measured scattered doses during angiography and digital breast tomosynthesis examinations with small-type dosimeters using our jungle gym (JG) method with measurement points at 50-cm intervals. The results were compared with measurements taken using the conventional ion chamber method. The JG method uses paper pipe tubes and a plastic joint structure and allows measurements at different points inside an examination room. The difference between measurements can be attributed to the radiation absorption characteristics of the components used in the JG method. A maximum radiation dose reduction of 20% was observed due to absorption by the JG components. This effect was smaller than the measurement error produced because of reproducibility issues and other limitations of the conventional method. The conventional measurement has disadvantages that are associated with the reproducibility of measurement points, equipment load, and the radiation exposure experienced by the measurer. The proposed JG method exhibits significant improvements in all these aspects. Furthermore, the measurer does not have to be present in the measurement room; therefore, the JG method is extremely safe and useful for radiation protection.

Dose distribution comparison in volumetric-modulated arc therapy plans for head and neck cancers with and without an external body contour extended technique

Aim

This study compared volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans for head and neck cancers with and without an external body contour extended technique (EBCT).

Background

Dose calculation algorisms for VMAT have limitations in the buildup region.

Materials and methods

Three VMAT plans were enrolled, with one case having a metal artifact from an artificial tooth. The proper dose was calculated using Eclipse version 11.0. The body contours were extended 2 cm outward from the skin surface in three-dimensional space, and the dose was recalculated with an anisotropic analytical algorithm (AAA) and Acuros XB (AXB). Monitor units (MUs) were set, and the dose distributions in the planning target volume (PTV), clinical target volume, and organ at risk (OAR) and conformity index (CI) with and without an EBCT were compared. The influence of a metal artifact outside of the thermoplastic head mask was also compared.

Results

The coverage of PTV by the 95% dose line near the patient's skin was increased drastically by using an EBCT. Plan renormalization had a negligible impact on MUs and doses delivered to OARs. CI of PTV with a 6-MV photon beam was closer to 1 than that with a 10-MV photon beam when both AAA and AXB were used in all cases. Metal artifacts outside the head mask had no effect on dose distribution.

Conclusions

An EBCT is needed to estimate the proper dose at object volumes near the patient's skin and can improve the accuracy of the calculated dose at target volumes.

Prediction of skin dose in low-kV intraoperative radiotherapy using machine learning models trained on results of in vivo dosimetry

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to implement a machine learning model to predict skin dose from targeted intraoperative (TARGIT) treatment resulting in timely adoption of strategies to limit excessive skin dose.

METHODS

A total of 283 patients affected by invasive breast carcinoma underwent TARGIT with a prescribed dose of 6 Gy at 1 cm, after lumpectomy. Radiochromic films were used to measure the dose to the skin for each patient. Univariate statistical analysis was performed to identify correlation of physical and patient variables with measured dose. After feature selection of predictors of in vivo skin dose, machine learning models stepwise linear regression (SLR), support vector regression (SVR), ensemble with bagging or boosting, and feed forward neural networks were trained on results of in vivo dosimetry to derive models to predict skin dose. Models were evaluated by tenfold cross validation and ranked according to root mean square error (RMSE) and adjusted correlation coefficient of true vs predicted values (adj-R² ).

RESULTS

The predictors correlated with in vivo dosimetry were the distance of skin from source, depth-dose in water at depth of the applicator in the breast, use of a replacement source, and irradiation time. The best performing model was SVR, which scored RMSE and adj-R² , equal to 0.746 [95% confidence intervals (CI), 95% CI 0.737,0.756] and 0.481 (95% CI 0.468,0.494), respectively, on the tenfold cross validation.

CONCLUSION

The model trained on results of in vivo dosimetry can be used to predict skin dose during setup of patient for TARGIT and this allows for timely adoption of strategies to prevent of excessive skin dose.

Energy dependence and angular dependence of an optically stimulated luminescence dosimeter in the mammography energy range

This study aimed to investigate the energy dependence and the angular dependence of commercially available optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) point dosimeters in the mammography energy range. The energy dependence was evaluated to calculate calibration factors (CFs). The half-value layer range was 0.31-0.60 mmAl (Mo/Mo 22-28 kV, Mo/Rh 28-32 kV, and W/Rh 30-34 kV at 2-kV intervals). Mo/Rh 28 kV was the reference condition. Angular dependence was tested by rotating the X-ray tube from -90° to 90° in 30° increments, and signal counts from angled nanoDots were normalized to the 0° signal counts. Angular dependence was compared with three tube voltage and target/filter combinations (Mo/Mo 26 kV, Mo/Rh 28 kV and W/Rh 32 kV). The CFs of energy dependence were 0.94-1.06. In Mo/Mo 26-28 kV and Mo/Rh 28-32 kV, the range of CF was 0.99-1.01, which was very similar. For angular dependence, the most deteriorated normalized values (Mo/Mo, 0.37; Mo/Rh, 0.43; and W/Rh, 0.58) were observed when the X-ray tube was rotated at a 90° angle, compared to 0°. The most angular dependences of ± 30°, 60°, and 90° decreased by approximately 4%, 14%, and 63% respectively. The mean deteriorated measurement 30° intervals from 0° to ± 30° was 2%, from ± 30° to ± 60° was 8%, and from ± 60° to ± 90° was 40%. The range of energy dependence in typical mammography energy range was not as much as that in general radiography and computed tomography. For accurate measurement using nanoDot, the tilt needs to be under 30°.

Monte Carlo based investigations of electron contamination from telecobalt unit head in build up region and its impact on surface dose

A Telecobalt unit has wide range of applications in cancer treatments and is used widely in many countries all around the world. Estimation of surface dose in Cobalt-60 teletherapy machine becomes important since clinically useful photon beam consist of contaminated electrons during the patient treatment. EGSnrc along with the BEAMnrc user code was used to model the Theratron 780E telecobalt unit. Central axis depth dose profiles including surface doses have been estimated for the field sizes of 0×0, 6×6, 10×10, 15×15, 20×20, 25×25, 30×30cm² and at Source-to-surface distance (SSD) of 60 and 80cm. Surface dose was measured experimentally by the Gafchromic RTQA2 films and are in good agreement with the simulation results. The central axis depth dose data are compared with the data available from the British Journal of Radiology report no. 25. Contribution of contaminated electrons has also been calculated using Monte Carlo simulation by the different parts of the Cobalt-60 head for different field size and SSD's. Moreover, depth dose curve in zero area field size is calculated by extrapolation method and compared with the already published data. They are found in good agreement.