title: Quality assurance of HDR 192Ir sources using a Fricke dosimeter.
abstract: A prototype of a Fricke dosimetry system consisting of a 15 x 15 x 15 cm3 water phantom made of Plexiglas and a 11.3-ml Pyrex balloon fitted with a 0.2 cm thick Pyrex sleeve in its center was created to assess source strength and treatment planning algorithms for use in high dose rate (HDR) 192Ir afterloading units. In routine operation, the radioactive source is positioned at the end of a sleeve, which coincides with the center of the spherical balloon that is filled with Fricke solution, so that the solution is nearly isotropically irradiated. The Fricke system was calibrated in terms of source strength against a reference well-type ionization chamber, and in terms of radial dose by means of an existing algorithm from the HDR's treatment planning system. Because the system is based on the Fricke dosimeter itself, for a given type and model of 192Ir source, the system needs initial calibration but no recalibration. The results from measurements made over a 10 month period, including source decay and source substitutions, have shown the feasibility of using such a system for quality control (QC) of HDR afterloading equipment, including both the source activity and treatment planning parameters. The benefit of a large scale production and the use of this device for clinical HDR QC audits via mail are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: The Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Department of Radiation Oncology, 600 Moye Boulevard, Greenville, North Carolina 27858, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Austerlitz
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mota
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Allison
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sibata
mesh_terms: D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000592:standards; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D007496:Iridium Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D011874:Radiometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D007496:Iridium Radioisotopes