EPR dosimetry of radiotherapy photon beams in inhomogeneous media using alanine films

Phys Med Biol. 2006 Dec 21;51(24):6315-28. doi: 10.1088/0031-9155/51/24/003. Epub 2006 Nov 21.

Abstract

In the current work, EPR (electron paramagnetic resonance) dosimetry using alanine films (134 microm thick) was utilized for dose measurements in inhomogeneous phantoms irradiated with radiotherapy photon beams. The main phantom material was PMMA, while either Styrofoam or aluminium was introduced as an inhomogeneity. The phantoms were irradiated to a maximum dose of about 30 Gy with 6 or 15 MV photons. The performance of the alanine film dosimeters was investigated and compared to results from ion chamber dosimetry, Monte Carlo simulations and radiotherapy treatment planning calculations. It was found that the alanine film dosimeters had a linear dose response above approximately 5 Gy, while a background signal obscured the response at lower dose levels. For doses between 5 and 60 Gy, the standard deviation of single alanine film dose estimates was about 2%. The alanine film dose estimates yielded results comparable to those from the Monte Carlo simulations and the ion chamber measurements, with absolute differences between estimates in the order of 1-15%. The treatment planning calculations exhibited limited applicability. The current work shows that alanine film dosimetry is a method suitable for estimating radiotherapeutical doses and for dose measurements in inhomogeneous media.

MeSH terms

  • Alanine / chemistry*
  • Aluminum / chemistry
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
  • Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy / methods*
  • Film Dosimetry / instrumentation*
  • Film Dosimetry / methods*
  • Ions
  • Magnetics
  • Monte Carlo Method
  • Phantoms, Imaging
  • Photons
  • Polymethyl Methacrylate / chemistry
  • Polystyrenes / chemistry
  • Radiometry / methods
  • Radiotherapy / methods*

Substances

  • Ions
  • Polystyrenes
  • styrofoam
  • Polymethyl Methacrylate
  • Aluminum
  • Alanine