3D dosimetry for brachytherapy and heterogeneities

Abstract

Clinical applications of 3D dosimeters have been considered since the 1950s, when uses of gel dosimeters were first explored [1,2]. Since then, however, the number of investigators has increased, and the body of knowledge regarding gel dosimetry has grown considerably [3-5]. 3D dosimetry is essential for a number of clinical applications, including the complete characterisation of brachytherapy sources, and the evaluation of dose distributions around and within inhomogeneous tissues. However, each of these conditions presents several challenges which must be overcome to allow the accurate and practical determination of dose distributions. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd.