TY - CONF

T1 - A comparison of BCF-12 organic scintillators and Al2O3:C crystals for real-time medical dosimetry

A1 - Beierholm,Anders Ravnsborg

A1 - Andersen,Claus Erik

A1 - Lindvold,Lars

A1 - Kjær-Kristoffersen,Flemming

A1 - Medin,Joakim

AU - Beierholm,Anders Ravnsborg

AU - Andersen,Claus Erik

AU - Lindvold,Lars

AU - Kjær-Kristoffersen,Flemming

AU - Medin,Joakim

PB - Pergamon

PY - 2008

Y1 - 2008

N2 - Radioluminescence (RL) from aluminium oxide (Al2O3:C) crystals and organic scintillators such as the blue-emitting BCF-12 can be used for precise real-time dose rate measurements during radiation therapy of cancer patients. Attaching the dosimeters to thin light-guiding fiber cables enables in vivo use. The light signal is detected by a photomultiplier tube (PNIT). Unfortunately Cerenkov light and fluorescence are also generated in the fiber cable itself during irradiation, and this so-called stem effect can be significant compared with the dosimeter signal. In the case of Al2O3:C, this problem can be circumvented for pulsed beams due to the long life-time of the main luminescence center. In contrast, chromatic removal seems to be the most effective method for organic scintillators, but is found to yield some experimental complexities. In this paper, we report on dose rate measurements using BCF-12 as well as Al2O3:C. We focus our attention on comparing the efficiency of stem effect removal of the two materials, as well as the accuracy of the resulting depth-dose curves. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

AB - Radioluminescence (RL) from aluminium oxide (Al2O3:C) crystals and organic scintillators such as the blue-emitting BCF-12 can be used for precise real-time dose rate measurements during radiation therapy of cancer patients. Attaching the dosimeters to thin light-guiding fiber cables enables in vivo use. The light signal is detected by a photomultiplier tube (PNIT). Unfortunately Cerenkov light and fluorescence are also generated in the fiber cable itself during irradiation, and this so-called stem effect can be significant compared with the dosimeter signal. In the case of Al2O3:C, this problem can be circumvented for pulsed beams due to the long life-time of the main luminescence center. In contrast, chromatic removal seems to be the most effective method for organic scintillators, but is found to yield some experimental complexities. In this paper, we report on dose rate measurements using BCF-12 as well as Al2O3:C. We focus our attention on comparing the efficiency of stem effect removal of the two materials, as well as the accuracy of the resulting depth-dose curves. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

KW - Diagnostik og behandling

U2 - 10.1016/j.radmeas.2007.12.032

DO - 10.1016/j.radmeas.2007.12.032

JO - Radiation Measurements

JF - Radiation Measurements

SN - 1350-4487

IS - 2-6

VL - 43

SP - 898

EP - 903

ER -