High-resolution three-dimensional dosimetry in clinically relevant volumes utilizing optically stimulated...

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiotherapy
• Dosimetry

Background:

• Advanced radiotherapy requires dosimetry systems with high sensitivity, wide dose range, and high spatial resolution.
• A key emerging need is for three-dimensional (3D) dosimetry with high precision and spatial resolution.
• Current 3D dosimetry systems face clinical workflow limitations due to their chemical properties, driving the search for new solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the capabilities of a novel optically-stimulated luminescence (OSL)-based 3D dosimetry system.
• To measure radiation doses in clinically relevant volumes using the OSL system.

Main Methods:

• A laser-based readout system measured dose distributions from photon and proton beams using a YSO:Ce crystal.
• The system's accuracy and precision were established using homogeneous and overlapping photon fields.
• Proton pencil beam irradiations were performed, and system abilities were quantified by comparing measurements to Monte Carlo simulations.

Main Results:

• The OSL dosimetry system achieved dose map reproducibility within 2% (statistical and systematic errors).
• Measurements covered clinically relevant volumes with high spatial resolution (voxel volumes as small as X mm³).
• Excellent agreement was observed between 3D-resolved measurements and Monte Carlo simulations for both photon and proton irradiation.

Conclusions:

• The developed OSL-based 3D dosimetry system effectively measures clinically relevant photon and proton radiation fields.
• The system demonstrates significant potential for clinical applications in radiotherapy.
• This technology enables future research in tissue-equivalent 3D dosimetry using optically-stimulated luminescence.