Semiconductor dosimetry in modern external-beam radiation therapy.

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiation Oncology
• Semiconductor Devices

Background:

• Semiconductor dosimeters are essential in external-beam radiation therapy due to their unique properties.
• Key features include real-time electronic response, stability, linearity with absorbed dose, small sensitive volume, mechanical strength, and high sensitivity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe common semiconductor dosimeters: diodes, metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs), and diamonds.
• To detail their operational principles and applications in radiation therapy.
• To explore their use in advanced and experimental radiotherapy techniques.

Main Methods:

• Review and description of semiconductor dosimeter types (diodes, MOSFETs, diamonds).
• Discussion of their physical principles and operational mechanisms.
• Analysis of their applications in various radiotherapy modalities.

Main Results:

• Semiconductor dosimeters provide stable and linear dose measurements.
• Their small size and high sensitivity are advantageous for precise dosimetry.
• Applications span conventional photon therapy, proton therapy, heavy ion therapy, and micro-beam radiation therapy.

Conclusions:

• Diodes, MOSFETs, and diamonds are versatile semiconductor dosimeters for radiation therapy.
• Their characteristics enable accurate dose monitoring across diverse therapeutic applications.
• Continued exploration in experimental techniques highlights their future potential in radiotherapy.