Proton-beam radiation therapy dosimetry standardization

Journal Article · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995 · Radioactivity and Radiochemistry

OSTI ID:401767

Gall, K P

Beams of protons have been used for radiation therapy applications for over 40 years. In the last decade the number of facilities treating patients and the total number of patients being treated has begun go grow rapidly. Due to the limited and experimental nature of the early programs, dosimetry protocols tended to be locally defined. With the publication of the AAPM Task Group 20 report {open_quotes}Protocol for Dosimetry of Heavy Charged Particles{close_quotes} and the {open_quotes}European Code of Practice for Proton-Beam Dosimetry{close_quotes} the practice of determining dose in proton-beam therapy was somewhat unified. The ICRU has also recently commissioned a report on recommendations for proton-beam dosimetry. There have been three main methods of determining proton dose; the Faraday cup technique, the ionization chamber technique, and the calorimeter technique. For practical reasons the ionization chamber technique has become the most widely used. However, due to large errors in basic parameters (e.g., W-value) is also has a large uncertainty for absolute dose. It has been proposed that the development of water calorimeter absorbed dose standards would reduce the uncertainty in absolute proton dose as well as the relative dose between megavoltage X-ray beams and proton beams. The advantages and disadvantages are discussed.

• OSTI ID: 401767
• Journal Information: Radioactivity and Radiochemistry, Journal Name: Radioactivity and Radiochemistry Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 6; ISSN RARAE6; ISSN 1045-845X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BASIC STUDIES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
CALORIMETRIC DOSEMETERS
DOSIMETRY
ICRU
PROTON BEAMS
RADIOTHERAPY
STANDARDIZATION