Comparison of the effectiveness of polymer gel dosimeters (Magic and pagatug) for organ dose calculation in brachytherapy, nuclear medicine and teletherapy

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate and compare two polymer gel dosimeters, Magic and Pagatug, as organ dosimeters for 3D measurement of dose distribution in brachytherapy, nuclear medicine and teletherapy. Methods: Magic and Pagatug polymer gels were compared with soft tissue based on irradiation with low energy photons during therapeutic applications. Comparison was simulated using Monte-Carlo-based MCNPX code. ORNL phantom–Female was used to model some vital organs (kidneys, ovaries and uterus). The right kidney was proposed to be the source of irradiation and the two organs were exposed to this irradiation. Results: The effective atomic numbers of soft tissue, Magic and Pagatug were 6.86134, 7.07 and 7.2884, respectively. The results showed that Magic and Pagatug, were comparable to soft tissue with regard to application in nuclear medicine and teletherapy. Differences between gel dosimeters and soft tissue were defined as the dose responses. This difference was < 8.1, < 4 and < 76.8 % for teletherapy, nuclear medicine and brachytherapy, respectively. Conclusion: Due to slight differences between the effective atomic numbers of these polymer gel dosimeters and soft tissue, the polymer gels are not suitable for brachytherapy since the photoelectric interaction is dominant for low energy photons, and the interaction relates to Z4. The results demonstrate that the gel dosimeters are best suited for nuclear medicine.