Low-density polymer gel dosimeters for 3D radiation dosimetry in the thoracic region: A preliminary study

Abstract

Different low-density polymer gel dosimeters have been constructed that can be used to acquire the radiation dose distribution of IMRT treatments in the thoracic region. A heterogeneous phantom consisting of a low density polymer gel dosimeter sandwiched between two layers of soft tissue equivalent gel has been constructed. As a proof-of-principle, the phantom has been irradiated with a square 4 cm x 4 cm beam. The dose distribution is read out by use of both quantitative NMR spin-spin (R2) and magnetization transfer (MT) imaging. Sources of error in the dose readout have been assessed and are discussed.