title: In vivo dosimetry with optically stimulated dosimeters and RTQA2 radiochromic film for intraoperative radiotherapy of the breast.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Measurements were taken with optically stimulated luminescence dosimeters (OSLDs) and with RTQA2 radiochromic film to evaluate the use of each for in vivo dosimetry with intraoperative radiotherapy of the breast.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nonlinear calibration curves were established for OSLDs and RTQA2 radiochromic film using the Intrabeam 50 kVp source. Measurements were taken in a water phantom and compared to absolute dose measurements taken with an ionization chamber to investigate the characteristics of both types of dosimeters, including energy response and radiative absorption. In vivo readings were taken on the skin and in the tumor cavity using OSLDs and RTQA2 radiochromic film for 10 patients and 20 patients respectively. A prescription of 20 Gy to the surface of the applicator was used for all in vivo measurements in this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  OSLDs were found to have an approximate uncertainty of ± 7% for readings near the surface of the applicator and ± 17% for readings at distances typical to the skin. The radiative absorption by OSLD was negative, indicating that this type of dosimeter absorbs less radiation than water in the targeted intraoperative radiotherapy energy range. RTQA2 film exhibited no energy dependence and all film readings were within ± 8% of the delivered dose. The maximum radiative absorption in film was 8.5%. Radiochromic film measurements were found to be on average 18.2 ± 3.3 Gy for the tumor cavity and 2.1 ± 0.8 Gy for positions on the skin superior and inferior to the Intrabeam applicator. Average cavity measurements taken with OSLDs were 15.9 ± 3.9 Gy and average skin doses were 1.4 ± 0.8 Gy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OSLDs produce results with an uncertainty comparable to other dosimeters near the surface of the applicator but the uncertainty increases to an unacceptably high level with distance from the applicator. RTQA2 radiochromic film is shown to be accurate both at the surface of the applicator and at distances of 1-2 cm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial University Medical Center, Savannah, Georgia 31404, USA. caleb.gtg209z@gmail.com
authors.forename: Caleb
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pederson
authors.forename: Chanté
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Frazier
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Duttenhaver
mesh_terms: D001940:Breast / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000601:surgery*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D005373:Film Dosimetry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000379:methods*