2D and 3D dose distribution determination in proton beam radiotherapy with GafChromic^TM film detectors

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Troja, S.O.^{a; b; *} | Egger, E.^c | Francescon, P.^d | Gueli, A.M.^{a; b} | Kacperek, A.^e | Coco, M.^a | Musmeci, R.^a | Pedalino, A.^a

Affiliations: [a] Dipartimento di Fisica dell'Università, Corso Italia 57, 95129, Catania, Italy | [b] Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare – Sezione di Catania, Corso Italia 57, 95129, Catania, Italy | [c] Division of Radiation Medicine, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen-PSI, Switzerland | [d] Dipartimento di Fisica Medica, Ospedale “S. Bortolo”, Vicenza, Italy | [e] Clatterbridge Centre of Oncology, Bebington, UK

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author. Tel.: + 39 95 7195212; Fax: + 39 95 383023; E-mail: olindo.troja@ct.infn.it.

Abstract: This paper presents the results obtained using radiochromic (MD-55 GafChromicTM) film for the 2D and 3D dosimetric reconstruction of the dose delivered by a proton beam under the real conditions of a programme of radiotherapy treatment for ocular tumours. Standard microdensitometric measurements were used to determine the variation in film optical density (O.D.) vs dose. Calibration curves were obtained by least-square fitting of the experimental OD values using a second order polynomial. This allows conversion of O.D. to dose. With this procedure it was possible to determine the distribution of the dose delivered by the proton beam in a phantom composed of layers of GafChromicTM film, with high surface spatial resolution and, through sections, the complete mapping of the dose delivered to a volume subjected to irradiation, as in a course of radiotherapy treatment.

Keywords: GafChromic^TM, radiotherapy, treatment planning, proton dosimetry, dose distribution

DOI: 10.3233/THC-2000-8206

Journal: Technology and Health Care, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 155-164, 2000