Application of monomer/polymer gel dosimetry to study the effects of tissue inhomogeneities on intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) dose distributions

Vergote, K; Deene, Yves De; Claus, Filip; Gersem, Werner De; Duyse, B. Van; Paelinck, Leen; Achten, Eric; Neve, Wilfried De; Wagter, Carlos De

doi:10.1016/s0167-8140(02)00376-6

Cited by 42 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Compensation of all these error contributions has resulted in far better outcomes. Further optimization of imaging sequence parameters has also aided in acquiring 3D dose distributions within a feasible time span (Vergote et al 2003, 2004a, Duthoy et al 2003, 2004, Gustavsson et al 2003, Sandilos et al 2004, Papagiannis et al 2005, Karaiskos et al 2005). An example of a large volume dose verification gel dosimetry experiment is shown in figure 24.…”

Section: Applications Of Polymer Gel Dosimetrymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The effect of air cavities on the dose distribution after conformal radiation treatment has also been investigated (Vergote et al 2003). …”

Section: Applications Of Polymer Gel Dosimetrymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It was established that significant issues relating to the accuracy of this dosimetry technique were a result of oxygen inhibition in the polymer gel and MRI imaging artifacts. Authors continued to investigate clinical aspects of polymer gel dosimetry using MRI including conformal therapy, IMRT and IMAT (Cosgrove et al 2000, De Deene et al 2000c, Vergote et al 2003, Duthoy et al 2003, 2004, Love et al 2003, Vergote et al 2004a, Sandilos et al 2004), stereotactic radiosurgery (Ertl et al 2000, Grebe et al 2001, Pappas et al 2001, Audet et al 2002, Novotny et al 2002, Scheib and Gianolini 2002,Watanabe et al 2002, Papagiannis et al 2005, Karaiskos et al 2005), brachytherapy (Farajollahi et al 1999, Wuu et al 2003), low-energy x-rays (Boudou et al 2004), high-LET and proton therapy (Ramm et al 2000, Jirasek and Duzenli 2002, Heufelder et al 2003, Gustavsson et al 2004), boron capture neutron therapy (Farajollahi et al 2000, Gambarini et al 2004) and tissue inhomogeneities (Love et al 2003, Vergote et al 2003). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Polymer gel dosimetry

et al. 2010

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Polymer gel dosimeters are fabricated from radiation sensitive chemicals which, upon irradiation, polymerize as a function of the absorbed radiation dose. These gel dosimeters, with the capacity to uniquely record the radiation dose distribution in three-dimensions (3D), have specific advantages when compared to one-dimensional dosimeters, such as ion chambers, and two-dimensional dosimeters, such as film. These advantages are particularly significant in dosimetry situations where steep dose gradients exist such as in intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and stereotactic radiosurgery. Polymer gel dosimeters also have specific advantages for brachytherapy dosimetry. Potential dosimetry applications include those for low-energy x-rays, high-linear energy transfer (LET) and proton therapy, radionuclide and boron capture neutron therapy dosimetries. These 3D dosimeters are radiologically soft-tissue equivalent with properties that may be modified depending on the application. The 3D radiation dose distribution in polymer gel dosimeters may be imaged using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), optical-computerized tomography (optical-CT), x-ray CT or ultrasound. The fundamental science underpinning polymer gel dosimetry is reviewed along with the various evaluation techniques. Clinical dosimetry applications of polymer gel dosimetry are also presented.

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Section: Applications Of Polymer Gel Dosimetrymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The effect of air cavities on the dose distribution after conformal radiation treatment has also been investigated (Vergote et al 2003). …”

Section: Applications Of Polymer Gel Dosimetrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Polymer gel dosimetry

et al. 2010

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“…Initial applications to IMRT verification have been promising. 64,210,[212][213][214][215][216][217] …”

Section: Vb1 Polymerizing Gelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dosimetry tools and techniques for IMRT

et al. 2011

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Intensity modulated radiation therapy ͑IMRT͒ poses a number of challenges for properly measuring commissioning data and quality assurance ͑QA͒ radiation dose distributions. This report provides a comprehensive overview of how dosimeters, phantoms, and dose distribution analysis techniques should be used to support the commissioning and quality assurance requirements of an IMRT program. The proper applications of each dosimeter are described along with the limitations of each system. Point detectors, arrays, film, and electronic portal imagers are discussed with respect to their proper use, along with potential applications of 3D dosimetry. Regardless of the IMRT technique utilized, some situations require the use of multiple detectors for the acquisition of accurate commissioning data. The overall goal of this task group report is to provide a document that aids the physicist in the proper selection and use of the dosimetry tools available for IMRT QA and to provide a resource for physicists that describes dosimetry measurement techniques for purposes of IMRT commissioning and measurement-based characterization or verification of IMRT treatment plans. This report is not intended to provide a comprehensive review of commissioning and QA procedures for IMRT. Instead, this report focuses on the aspects of metrology, particularly the practical aspects of measurements that are unique to IMRT. The metrology of IMRT concerns the application of measurement instruments and their suitability, calibration, and quality control of measurements. Each of the dosimetry measurement tools has limitations that need to be considered when incorporating them into a commissioning process or a comprehensive QA program. For example, routine quality assurance procedures require the use of robust field dosimetry systems. These often exhibit limitations with respect to spatial resolution or energy response and need to themselves be commissioned against more established dosimeters. A chain of dosimeters, from secondary standards to field instruments, is established to assure the quantitative nature of the tests. This report is intended to describe the characteristics of the components of these systems; dosimeters, phantoms, and dose evaluation algorithms. This work is the report of AAPM Task Group 120.

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“…[2][3][4][5] To the author's knowledge five studies were reported to extend the gel dosimetry to inhomogeneous media. [6][7][8][9][10] The aim of this article is to study the feasibility of 3D dose measurements using newly developed heterogeneity phantoms. The phantom was filled with BANG-3 ® polymer gel.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heterogeneity phantoms for visualization of 3D dose distributions by MRI‐based polymer gel dosimetry

et al. 2004

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Heterogeneity corrections in dose calculations are necessary for radiation therapy treatment plans. Dosimetric measurements of the heterogeneity effects are hampered if the detectors are large and their radiological characteristics are not equivalent to water. Gel dosimetry can solve these problems. Furthermore, it provides three-dimensional (3D) dose distributions. We used a cylindrical phantom filled with BANG-3 polymer gel to measure 3D dose distributions in heterogeneous media. The phantom has a cavity, in which water-equivalent or bone-like solid blocks can be inserted. The irradiated phantom was scanned with an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. Dose distributions were obtained by calibrating the polymer gel for a relationship between the absorbed dose and the spin-spin relaxation rate of the magnetic resistance (MR) signal. To study dose distributions we had to analyze MR imaging artifacts. This was done in three ways: comparison of a measured dose distribution in a simulated homogeneous phantom with a reference dose distribution, comparison of a sagittally scanned image with a sagittal image reconstructed from axially scanned data, and coregistration of MR and computed-tomography images. We found that the MRI artifacts cause a geometrical distortion of less than 2 mm and less than 10% change in the dose around solid inserts. With these limitations in mind we could make some qualitative measurements. Particularly we observed clear differences between the measured dose distributions around an air-gap and around bone-like material for a 6 MV photon beam. In conclusion, the gel dosimetry has the potential to qualitatively characterize the dose distributions near heterogeneities in 3D.

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Application of monomer/polymer gel dosimetry to study the effects of tissue inhomogeneities on intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) dose distributions

Cited by 42 publications

References 35 publications

Polymer gel dosimetry

Polymer gel dosimetry

Dosimetry tools and techniques for IMRT

Heterogeneity phantoms for visualization of 3D dose distributions by MRI‐based polymer gel dosimetry

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