Dosimetry of a novel focused monoenergetic beam for radiotherapy

Abstract

Objective. A novel treatment modality is currently being developed that produces converging monoenergetic x-rays. Conventional application of dosimetric calibration as presented in protocol TG61 is not applicable. Furthermore, the dosimetry of the focal point of the converging beam is on the order of a few millimeters, requiring a high-resolution dosimeter. Here we present a procedure to calibrate radiochromic film for narrow-beam monoenergetic 60 keV photons as well as absolute dosimetry of monoenergetic focused x-rays. A study of the focal spot dose rate after passing through a bone-equivalent material was also done to quantify the effects of heterogeneous materials. Approach. This was accomplished by configuring a polyenergetic beam of equivalent energy using a clinical orthovoltage machine. Calibrated films were then used to perform absolute dosimetry of the converging beam by measuring the beam profile at various depths in water. Main Results. A method for calibrating radiochromic film has been developed and detailed that allows absolute dosimetry of a monoenergetic photon beam. Absolute dosimetry of a focused, mono-energetic beam resulted in a focal spot dose rate of ∼30 cGy min−1 at a depth of 5 cm in water. Significance. This work serves to establish a dosimetry protocol for mono-energetic beam absolute dosimetry as well as the use of such a method for measurement of a novel teletherapy modality.