Application of a color scanner for 60Co high dose rate brachytherapy dosimetry with ebt radiochromic film

Abstract

Background.The aim of this study is to evaluate the performance of a color scanner as a radiochromic film reader in two dimensional dosimetry around a high dose rate brachytherapy source.Materials and methodsA Microtek ScanMaker 1000XL film scanner was utilized for the measurement of dose distribution around a high dose rate GZP6 60Co brachytherapy source with GafChromic® EBT radiochromic films. In these investigations, the non-uniformity of the film and scanner response, combined, as well as the films sensitivity to scanner’s light source was evaluated using multiple samples of films, prior to the source dosimetry. The results of these measurements were compared with the Monte Carlo simulated data using MCNPX code. In addition, isodose curves acquired by radiochromic films and Monte Carlo simulation were compared with those provided by the GZP6 treatment planning system.ResultsScanning of samples of uniformly irradiated films demonstrated approximately 2.85% and 4.97% nonuniformity of the response, respectively in the longitudinal and transverse directions of the film. Our findings have also indicated that the film response is not affected by the exposure to the scanner’s light source, particularly in multiple scanning of film. The results of radiochromic film measurements are in good agreement with the Monte Carlo calculations (4%) and the corresponding dose values presented by the GZP6 treatment planning system (5%).ConclusionsThe results of these investigations indicate that the Microtek ScanMaker 1000XL color scanner in conjunction with GafChromic EBT film is a reliable system for dosimetric evaluation of a high dose rate brachytherapy source.

Report of AAPM Task Group 235 Radiochromic Film Dosimetry: An Update to TG‐55

“…Remote afterloading HDR sources: Remote afterloading HDR brachytherapy is a well-established treatment modality in radiation therapy. 319 RCF measurement of dosimetric characteristics in water or water equivalent solid phantoms have been reported for 192 Ir 14,138,146,328,329 , and 60 Co. 330,331 Based on the measured dose distributions, TG-43 dosimetric parameters 149 can be generated. 14,138,329,331 Dosimetric measurements of HDR sources in various applicators and catheters have been reported.…”

Design and implementation of a film dosimetry audit tool for comparison of planned and delivered dose distributions in high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy

“…Radiochromic film is an established dosimeter for radiotherapy dose measurements (Butson et al 2003, Devic 2011, primarily used to verify external beam dosimetry it has also been widely used in brachytherapy applications (Devic et al 2009, Aldelaijan et al 2011, Hira et al 2011, Ghorbani et al 2012, Uniyal et al 2012, Palmer et al 2013b. Film technology, scanning and analysis techniques have developed significantly in the last decade, and the latest Gafchromic EBT3 with multi-channel analysis is now advocated for accurate dose measurement (Micke et al 2011, van Hoof et al 2012.…”