Demonstration of 2D dosimetry using Al 2 O 3 optically stimulated luminescence films for therapeutic megavoltage x-ray and ion beams

High-resolution three-dimensional dosimetry in clinically relevant volumes utilizing optically stimulated luminescence

BACKGROUND

The continued development of new radiotherapy techniques requires dosimetry systems that satisfy increasingly rigorous requirements, such as high sensitivity, wide dose range, and high spatial resolution. An emerging requirement is the ability to read out doses in three dimensions (3D) with high precision and spatial resolution. A few dosimetry systems with 3D capabilities are available, but their application in a clinical workflow is limited for various reasons, primarily originating from their chemical nature. The search for a 3D dosimetry system with potential for clinical implementation is thus ongoing.

PURPOSE

To demonstrate the capabilities of a novel optically-stimulated-luminescence (OSL)-based 3D dosimetry system capable of measuring radiation doses in clinically relevant volumes.

METHODS

A laser-based readout system was used to measure dose distributions delivered by both photons and protons, utilizing the OSL from a50 × 50 × 50 $50\times 50\times 50$  mm3 $^3$ YSO:Ce crystal. A homogeneous treatment plan consisting of two opposing photon fields was used to establish an inhomogeneity correction map of the crystal response and demonstrated the accuracy and precision of the system. The crystal was additionally irradiated with a photon treatment plan consisting of three overlapping10 × 10 $10\times 10$  mm2 $^2$ fields delivered from different angles, and a proton treatment plan consisting of four pencil beams with energies 90 MeV (× 2 $\times 2$ ), 115 MeV, and 140 MeV. The system abilities were quantified by comparing the 3D-resolved measurements to Monte Carlo simulations.

RESULTS

The dose map reproducibility of the system was found to be within 2% including both statistical and systematic errors. The measurements yielded integrated doses from a volume of50 × 50 × 40 $50\times 50\times 40$  mm3 $^3$ with voxel volumes of just0.28 × 0.28 × 0.50 $0.28\times 0.28\times 0.50$  mm3 $^3$ . An excellent agreement between the 3D-resolved measurements and the simulations was found for both photon- and proton-irradiation.

CONCLUSIONS

The capabilities of the devised system for measuring clinically relevant fields of photons and proton pencil beams within a clinically relevant volume were demonstrated. The system poses as a promising candidate for clinical applications, and enables future research in the field of OSL-based tissue-equivalent 3D dosimetry.

Radiosurgery dosimetry using CaSO4:Eu OSLD film-a feasibility study

Recent studies demonstrated that optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) systems allow the evaluation of doses for 2D mapping in a relatively fast and simple way and results show submillimeter resolution. This work presents, for the first time, an optically stimulated luminescence dosemeter (OSLD) in the form of film made with CaSO4:Eu particles embedded in a silicone elastomer matrix. The OSLD film was produced using a low-cost and relatively simple methodology. This film is reusable and the signal can be satisfactorily bleached using blue LEDs. The main dosimetric properties were evaluated using TL/OSL Risø reader with blue stimulation and Hoya U-340 filter. Investigation shows repeatability within 3% when measuring with the same film sample. Regarding the OSLD film homogeneity, nearly 12% sensitivity change was observed within the 5 × 5 cm2 produced film. Additionally, the dose response curve shows linearity from 5 to 25 Gy. Fading of the OSL signal is relatively high, about 50% in the first week and then is stable. Nevertheless, a 3 × 3 cm2 OSLD film was successfully used to map dose distribution in radiosurgery (6 MV photon beam). This work demonstrates the feasibility of 2D dosimetry using reusable OSLD films based on CaSO4:Eu.

Intercomparison study of sensitivities from commercial OSL readers and a newly developed OSL reader

In this study, we compared the sensitivities of a newly designed OSL system with two commercial systems, performing OSL readouts of Al2O3:C irradiated with doses ranging from mGy to a few Gy. It is our first prototype, and we used a cluster of three blue LEDs (5 W each and approximately wavelength 450 nm) for the optical stimulation in the modes continuous wave (CW-OSL) and pulsed (POSL). The detection window used a bandpass filter, allowing the detection of OSL signal with a wavelength shorter than 360 nm. For detection, we have a photodetector module with a photomultiplier tube. We compared the readouts with commercial readers, respecting each reader's different characteristics, which present different wavelengths for optical stimuli (blue and green, respectively) in CW-OSL and POSL modes. The obtained results concluded that the developed reader could be applied for OSL readouts of detectors exposed to a few hundred of mGy in POSL mode and high doses (up to a few Gy) in CW-OSL mode.

Optically Stimulated Luminescent Response of the LiMgPO4 Silicone Foils to Protons and Its Dependence on Proton Energy

Modern radiotherapy (RT) techniques, such as proton therapy, require more and more sophisticated dosimetry methods and materials. One of the newly developed technologies is based on flexible sheets made of a polymer, with the embedded optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) material in the form of powder (LiMgPO₄, LMP) and a self-developed optical imaging setup. The detector properties were evaluated to study its potential application in the proton treatment plan verification for eyeball cancer. The data showed a well-known effect of lower luminescent efficiency of the LMP material response to proton energy. The efficiency parameter depends on a given material and radiation quality parameters. Therefore, the detailed knowledge of material efficiency is crucial in establishing a calibration method for detectors exposed to mixed radiation fields. Thus, in the present study, the prototype of the LMP-based silicone foil material was tested with monoenergetic uniform proton beams of various initial kinetic energies constituting the so-called spread-out Bragg peak (SOBP). The irradiation geometry was also modelled using the Monte Carlo particle transport codes. Several beam quality parameters, including dose and the kinetic energy spectrum, were scored. Finally, the obtained results were used to correct the relative luminescence efficiency response of the LMP foils for monoenergetic and spread-out proton beams.

Using the optically stimulated luminescence technique for one- and two-dimensional dose mapping: a brief review

In respect of radiation dosimetry, several applications require dose distribution verification rather than absolute dosimetry. Most protocols use radiological and radiochromic films and ionization chambers or diode arrays for dose mapping. The films are disposable which causes the precision of the results dependent on film production variability. The measurements with arrays of ionization chambers or diodes mainly lack spatial resolution. This review aims to provide an overview of the use of optically stimulated luminescence detectors (OSLDs) for one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) dose mapping in different applications. It reviews the ideas, OSL materials, and applications related to the assessment of dose distribution using OSLDs in the form of film or ceramic plate (BeO). Additionally, it reviews research published in the international scientific literature from 1998 to 2021. As an outcome, a table containing the main characteristics of each relevant paper is shown. The results section was divided by the type of OSL material, and we briefly described the principal findings and the significant developments of each mentioned study such as film production and OSL reader assembly. The purpose of this study was to present an overview of the main findings of several research groups on the use of OSLD in the form of film or plate for 1D and 2D dose mapping. Finally, the potential future development of dose mapping using OSLD films was outlined.

APPLICATIONS OF OPTICALLY STIMULATED LUMINESCENCE IN MEDICAL DOSIMETRY

If the first decade of the new millennium saw the establishment of a more solid foundation for the use of the Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) in medical dosimetry, the second decade saw the technique take root and become more widely used in clinical studies. Recent publications report not only characterization and feasibility studies of the OSL technique for various applications in radiotherapy and radiology, but also the practical use of OSL for postal audits, estimation of staff dose, in vivo dosimetry, dose verification and dose mapping studies. This review complements previous review papers and reports on the topic, providing a panorama of the new advances and applications in the last decade. Attention is also dedicated to potential future applications, such as LET dosimetry, 2D/3D dosimetry using OSL, dosimetry in magnetic resonance imaging-guided radiotherapy (MRIgRT) and dosimetry of extremely high dose rates (FLASH therapy).