Radiochromic film dosimetry: past, present, and future

In radiation therapy, an accurate dose determination and a precise dose delivery to the tumour are directly associated with better treatment outcomes in terms of higher tumour control and lower post radiation therapy complications. Over the years, film dosimetry was developed into a powerful tool for radiotherapy treatment verification and quality assurance. This review summarizes development of GAFCHROMIC™ film models through improvement in their sensitivity and uniformity as two dimensional detectors. The most important characteristics as well as the limitations that can affect the performance of the radiochromic film dosimetry systems have been described. An outline of both clinical and research contemporary applications is given particularly emphasizing new applications like brachytherapy, diagnostic radiology and radiobiological experiments. Review concludes through an overview of future directions in development of this important dosimetric tool revolving around its possible use as a three-dimensional dosimeter and the energy dependence of the film's response.