One year of experience with alanine dosimetry in radiotherapy

Commercially available alanine dosimeters from different manufacturers were purchased for this study. The response of the detectors was evaluated with 60Co gamma radiation in the dose range 0.2-200 Gy, using a small EPR spectrometer dedicated to dosimetry. The batch sensitivity, inter-specimen scattering and background signal for the different selection of dosimeters were evaluated. The usefulness of the alanine dosimetry system for clinical routine is illustrated by in vivo measurements during 192Ir brachytherapy of cervix carcinoma.