High dose rate brachytherapy source measurement intercomparison.
This work presents a comparison of air kerma rate (AKR) measurements performed by multiple radiotherapy centres for a single HDR192Ir source. Two separate groups (consisting of 15 centres) performed AKR measurements at one of two host centres in Australia. Each group travelled to one of the host centres and measured the AKR of a single192Ir source using their own equipment and local protocols. Results were compared to the192Ir source calibration certificate provided by the manufacturer by means of a ratio of measured to certified AKR. The comparisons showed remarkably consistent results with the maximum deviation in measurement from the decay-corrected source certificate value being 1.1%. The maximum percentage difference between any two measurements was less than 2%. The comparisons demonstrated the consistency of well-chambers used for192Ir AKR measurements in Australia, despite the lack of a local calibration service, and served as a valuable focal point for the exchange of ideas and dosimetry methods.
Radiation Oncology, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Camperdown, NSW, Australia. poderjoel@gmail.com.|Centre of Medical Radiation Physics, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia. poderjoel@gmail.com.
Joel
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3018-6750
J
Poder
Alfred Health Radiation Oncology, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.|School of Applied Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Ryan L
RL
Smith
Olivia Newton John Cancer and Wellness Centre, The Austin Hospital, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia.
Nikki
N
Shelton
Radiation Oncology, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
May
M
Whitaker
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, Yallambie, VIC, Australia.
Duncan
D
Butler
Physical Sciences, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.|School of Physics, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
Annette
A
Haworth
D001918:Brachytherapy; D002138:Calibration; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted; D035501:Uncertainty
Brachytherapy; Calibration; Intercomparison; Well-chamber