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Surface dose measurements in clinical photon beams
Acta Oncologica (Stockholm, Sweden)
|January 1, 1989
Summary
Thin thermoluminescence (TL) dosemeters (0.13 mm) accurately estimate skin dose within 5% for clinical X-rays when using correction factors. Thicker dosemeters are less accurate for surface dose measurements.
Area of Science:
- Medical Physics
- Radiation Dosimetry
Background:
- Accurate surface dose measurement is crucial in clinical radiation therapy.
- Various dosemeters, including thermoluminescence (TL) dosemeters and Si-diodes, are used in practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the suitability of thin thermoluminescence (TL) dosemeters for accurate skin dose estimation.
- To compare TL dosemeter measurements with an extrapolation chamber for different X-ray energies.
Main Methods:
- Surface dose measurements were performed using 0.13 mm thick TL dosemeters and Si-diodes.
- Results were compared against measurements obtained with an extrapolation chamber.
- Correction factors were determined for 60Co, 6 MV, and 21 MV X-rays.
Main Results:
- 0.13 mm thick TL dosemeters are suitable for skin dose estimation, achieving accuracy within 5% with applied correction factors.
- Correction factors of 0.82, 0.90, and 1.0 are required for 60Co, 6 MV, and 21 MV X-rays, respectively.
- Thicker TL dosemeters showed significant inaccuracies, overestimating dose within beams and underestimating it outside beams.
Conclusions:
- Thin TL dosemeters (0.13 mm) provide accurate surface dose measurements in clinical settings when appropriate correction factors are applied.
- Thicker dosemeters are not recommended for precise skin dose determination due to geometric variations and beam profile effects.