Precise EBT3 Gafchromic film dosimetry for Grid therapy

Abstract

ObjectivesGrid therapy is a radiation therapy technique for the treatment of bulky tumours. The high dose gradients and non-uniformity of dose distributions within the target lead to a challenge in the dosimetry of the Grid radiation fields. The aim of this study is to perform a precise EBT3 Gafchromic film dosimetry for Grid therapy fields using a commercially available flatbed colour scanner. MethodsIn this project, samples of the EBT3 Gafchromic films are exposed to Grid radiation fields. The irradiated EBT3 films were read using a flatbed Microtek scanner. The responses of these films (i.e. films from the same batch) as functions of the absorbed dose values are calibrated by irradiation under a fixed standard technique (i.e. 10 × 10 cm2 filed, 100 cm SSD, and depth of the maximum dose). These films are also read with the same scanner using the red, green, and blue channels. Four different approaches were used to evaluate film dosimetry for the Grid therapy applications: 1) single channel film dosimetry method (SCM), 2) dual channel film dosimetry method (DCM), 3) linearized dose-response curve method (LRCM), and 4) triple channel film dosimetry method (TCM). A dose of 20 Gy was delivered to the point along the central axis of the grid hole at the depth of maximum dose (dmax) for a 20 × 20 cm2 Grid field size. Beam profiles and percentage depth dose distributions of the Grid radiation have been measured in water-equivalent phantom material, using EBT3 films. The accuracy of the relative and the absolute dosimetry of the films were examined by comparison of the TLD measured data with the Monte Carlo simulated values. ResultsThe results of these investigations show that for a gamma index criterion of 5%/3 mm, the agreements between the MC calculations dose profiles and the SCM, DCM, LRCM, and TCM film dosimetry approaches the passing rates of 91%, 92%, 95%, and 95%, respectively. A much closer agreement was observed for using a linearized dose-response curve and triple-channel methods. ConclusionsSelection of an appropriate methodology in Gafchromic film dosimetry may lead to an accurate dose-response in a high dose gradient radiation field such as Grid therapy.