High dose-rate brachytherapy source localization: positional resolution using a diamond detector

Phys Med Biol. 2003 Jul 21;48(14):2133-46. doi: 10.1088/0031-9155/48/14/307.

Abstract

A potential real-time source position verification process for high dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy treatment is described. This process is intended to provide immediate confirmation that a treatment is proceeding according to plan, so that corrective action can be taken if necessary. We show that three dosimeters are in principle sufficient and demonstrate the feasibility of the process using a diamond detector and an Ir-192 source. An error analysis including all identified sources of error shows that this detector is capable of locating the distance to the source to within 2 mm for distances up to 12 cm. This positional accuracy is less than the diameter of typical HDR catheters indicating that a diamond detector can be used to accurately determine the distance to the source. The uncertainty in the distance is found to increase with distance.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms*
  • Brachytherapy / instrumentation*
  • Brachytherapy / methods*
  • Diamond*
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Radiometry / instrumentation*
  • Radiometry / methods*
  • Radiotherapy Dosage
  • Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / instrumentation*
  • Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Transducers

Substances

  • Diamond