Apesar da introdução do controle da qualidade individual nas técnicas complexas de tratamentos, tem-se comprovado que, mesmo assim, é possível a ocorrência de erros na aplicação da dose no momento da aplicação. No entanto, ainda não estão bem estabelecidas as ferramentas de redundância a fim de controlar a dose no momento da terapêutica, além do que, as técnicas mais modernas de tratamento radioterápico desenvolvem as aplicações com feixes rotacionais e os dosímetros tradicionalmente utilizados em controle da qualidade oferecem limitações angulares. Assim, este trabalho vem contribuir para o desenvolvimento de uma metodologia de controle da qualidade de transmissão in vivo utilizando filmes radiocrômicos acoplados ao cabeçote do acelerador linear, durante aplicações radioterápicas nas técnicas de tratamento conformacional e IMRT. A metodologia de controle da qualidade desenvolvida neste trabalho baseia-se na obtenção da distribuição de dose in vivo de tratamentos radioterápicos com um filme radiocrômico EBT2 posicionado em um suporte acrílico, semelhante a uma bandeja, a uma distância fonte-superfície de 56,8 cm, acoplado ao acessório holder do acelerador linear durante a aplicação de todo o tratamento teleterápico. Posteriormente, foi realizada uma análise gama para comparação da distribuição de dose medida pelo filme com a esperada pelo sistema de planejamento, obtida no plano coronal e central de um objeto simulador, com dimensões semelhantes ao suporte acrílico, posicionado à distância de 100 cm, como resultado da transferência do plano em questão. Com os resultados encontrados na seção conformacional, avaliando tanto a simulação Monte Carlo quanto as irradiações, pode-se concluir que a diferença entre a distribuição de dose do sistema de planejamento, na distância foco detector de 100 cm, e do filme, na distância de 56,8 cm, é diminuta e, desta forma, é viável criar uma metodologia para verificação dosimétrica de transmissão utilizando o filme radiocrômico acoplado ao cabeçote do acelerador. O controle da qualidade proposto na técnica de IMRT concordou com o esperado em 24 das 25 situações testadas, apresentando apenas um resultado diferente, ou seja, uma concordância de 96% com o esperado. As avaliações in vivo concordaram com 98% dos controles avaliados. Desta forma, pode-se concluir que a metodologia proposta neste trabalho é factível para o controle da qualidade de transmissão in vivo, em tratamentos radioterápicos que usam a técnica de tratamento conformacional e IMRT e, como ela não oferece dificuldades para o deslocamento angular do gantry, ela poderá ser aplicada em técnicas teleterápicas mais modernas. / Even with the introduction of the individual quality control in the complex techniques of radiation therapy treatments, the occurrence of errors in the release of the dose at the time of application is possible. However, in order to monitor the dose at the time of therapy, redundancy tools are not yet well established, Besides that, the most modern techniques of radiation treatment use rotational beams to deliver the desired dose distributions and the dosimeters traditionally used in quality control of radiation therapy suffer angular limitations. In this way, this work aims to contribute to the development of a methodology of transmission quality control in vivo presenting a dose control technique using radiochromic film coupled to the headstock linear accelerator for radiotherapy applications to monitor conformational techniques and IMRT treatment. The quality control methodology developed in this work is based on obtaining the in vivo dose distribution of radiotherapy treatments with a radiochromic film EBT2, positioned on an acrylic stand, similar to a tray at a source-surface distance of 56.8 cm, coupled to the linear accelerator accessory holder during application of any treatment. It was subsequently performed a gama analysis for comparison of the dose distribution measured by the film with the expected dose distribution by the treatment planning system. The expected dose distribution was obtained in the coronal and central plane of a phantom, with similar dimensions to the acrylic stand and positioned on a source-surface distance of 100 cm as a result of the transfer of the plan in question. Based on the results presented in the conformational section, evaluating both, Monte Carlo simulation and irradiation results, it can be concluded that the difference between the distribution of the dose planning system, focus distance 100 cm detector, and the film, on distance of 56.8 cm, are small, and in this way it is feasible to create a methodology for dosimetry verification using radiochromic film coupled to the head of the accelerator. The proposed quality control in IMRT technique agreed with expected in 24 simulations of the 25 situations tested, showing only one different result, i.e., there was a 96% concordance with the expected. In this way, it can be concluded that the methodology proposed in this work is feasible for the in vivo quality control of radiation therapy treatments that use the conformational and IMRT treatment techniques, and also can be applied to the most modern radiotherapy techniques since, it does not offer difficulties with the angular displacement of the gantry.

Apesar da introdução do controle da qualidade individual nas técnicas complexas de tratamentos, tem-se comprovado que, mesmo assim, é possível a ocorrência de erros na aplicação da dose no momento da aplicação. No entanto, ainda não estão bem estabelecidas as ferramentas de redundância a fim de controlar a dose no momento da terapêutica, além do que, as técnicas mais modernas de tratamento radioterápico desenvolvem as aplicações com feixes rotacionais e os dosímetros tradicionalmente utilizados em controle da qualidade oferecem limitações angulares. Assim, este trabalho vem contribuir para o desenvolvimento de uma metodologia de controle da qualidade de transmissão in vivo utilizando filmes radiocrômicos acoplados ao cabeçote do acelerador linear, durante aplicações radioterápicas nas técnicas de tratamento conformacional e IMRT. A metodologia de controle da qualidade desenvolvida neste trabalho baseia-se na obtenção da distribuição de dose in vivo de tratamentos radioterápicos com um filme radiocrômico EBT2 posicionado em um suporte acrílico, semelhante a uma bandeja, a uma distância fonte-superfície de 56,8 cm, acoplado ao acessório holder do acelerador linear durante a aplicação de todo o tratamento teleterápico. Posteriormente, foi realizada uma análise gama para comparação da distribuição de dose medida pelo filme com a esperada pelo sistema de planejamento, obtida no plano coronal e central de um objeto simulador, com dimensões semelhantes ao suporte acrílico, posicionado à distância de 100 cm, como resultado da transferência do plano em questão. Com os resultados encontrados na seção conformacional, avaliando tanto a simulação Monte Carlo quanto as irradiações, pode-se concluir que a diferença entre a distribuição de dose do sistema de planejamento, na distância foco detector de 100 cm, e do filme, na distância de 56,8 cm, é diminuta e, desta forma, é viável criar uma metodologia para verificação dosimétrica de transmissão utilizando o filme radiocrômico acoplado ao cabeçote do acelerador. O controle da qualidade proposto na técnica de IMRT concordou com o esperado em 24 das 25 situações testadas, apresentando apenas um resultado diferente, ou seja, uma concordância de 96% com o esperado. As avaliações in vivo concordaram com 98% dos controles avaliados. Desta forma, pode-se concluir que a metodologia proposta neste trabalho é factível para o controle da qualidade de transmissão in vivo, em tratamentos radioterápicos que usam a técnica de tratamento conformacional e IMRT e, como ela não oferece dificuldades para o deslocamento angular do gantry, ela poderá ser aplicada em técnicas teleterápicas mais modernas. / Even with the introduction of the individual quality control in the complex techniques of radiation therapy treatments, the occurrence of errors in the release of the dose at the time of application is possible. However, in order to monitor the dose at the time of therapy, redundancy tools are not yet well established, Besides that, the most modern techniques of radiation treatment use rotational beams to deliver the desired dose distributions and the dosimeters traditionally used in quality control of radiation therapy suffer angular limitations. In this way, this work aims to contribute to the development of a methodology of transmission quality control in vivo presenting a dose control technique using radiochromic film coupled to the headstock linear accelerator for radiotherapy applications to monitor conformational techniques and IMRT treatment. The quality control methodology developed in this work is based on obtaining the in vivo dose distribution of radiotherapy treatments with a radiochromic film EBT2, positioned on an acrylic stand, similar to a tray at a source-surface distance of 56.8 cm, coupled to the linear accelerator accessory holder during application of any treatment. It was subsequently performed a gama analysis for comparison of the dose distribution measured by the film with the expected dose distribution by the treatment planning system. The expected dose distribution was obtained in the coronal and central plane of a phantom, with similar dimensions to the acrylic stand and positioned on a source-surface distance of 100 cm as a result of the transfer of the plan in question. Based on the results presented in the conformational section, evaluating both, Monte Carlo simulation and irradiation results, it can be concluded that the difference between the distribution of the dose planning system, focus distance 100 cm detector, and the film, on distance of 56.8 cm, are small, and in this way it is feasible to create a methodology for dosimetry verification using radiochromic film coupled to the head of the accelerator. The proposed quality control in IMRT technique agreed with expected in 24 simulations of the 25 situations tested, showing only one different result, i.e., there was a 96% concordance with the expected. In this way, it can be concluded that the methodology proposed in this work is feasible for the in vivo quality control of radiation therapy treatments that use the conformational and IMRT treatment techniques, and also can be applied to the most modern radiotherapy techniques since, it does not offer difficulties with the angular displacement of the gantry.

A Radioterapia de lesões cerebrais próximas a estruturas críticas necessitam de uma alta precisão na localização e na dose. O rigor na liberação da dose deve ser acompanhado por um preciso controle da qualidade nos aparelhos que envolvam a prática. O comissionamento do sistema de planejamento consiste em averiguar e confirmar os cálculos realizados pelo sistema. Porém, mesmo com todo controle da qualidade no comissionamento, existem vários aspectos que podem influenciar na administração da dose no volume alvo, o que exige a necessidade de se fazer uma avaliação final, no ato do tratamento, in vivo. O objetivo deste trabalho é desenvolver uma técnica de dosimetria in vivo como parte de um programa de controle da qualidade em radioterapia estereotáxica. Na técnica de dosimetria in vivo, utilizaram-se segmentos de filme radiocrômico, com dimensões de 1x1 cm2, acoplados na área externa ao colimador formado por micro-lâminas, Moduleaf. Estes filmes foram inseridos na região central do feixe. Os filmes foram irradiados e calibrados para obtenção dos fatores campos, na configuração da técnica. Com estes dados foi elaborado um programa computacional, o qual calcula a densidade relativa que um filme deve adquirir quando submetido a uma exposição nesta configuração. Como a técnica de dosimetria in vivo usa os dados do TPS, validaram-se alguns parâmetros do comissionamento do TPS. Complementando o estudo da dosimetria in vivo foram avaliados cinco planos não co-planares, sendo o primeiro com 15 campos e os outros com 25 campos. Antes de iniciar o procedimento o segmento de filme era acoplado ao aparelho e após a execução do tratamento a densidade ótica era avaliada e comparada com a calculada pelo programa desenvolvido. No comissionamento, todas as dosimetrias relativas apresentaram diferenças percentuais menores que 2%, quando comparados os resultados medidos com os calculados pelo sistema de planejamento. No desenvolvimento da técnica de dosimetria in vivo, a diferença percentual média da verificação dosimétrica, no momento da irradiação, comparado com a calculada pela planilha foi de 1,5%, enquanto que a dosimetria absoluta aplicada ao controle da qualidade convencional foi aprovada com diferença percentual média de 2,5% e a função gama média encontrada foi de 97,9% dos pontos aprovados com critério de aceitação %=2% e D=2 mm. Logo, todos os dados estão em concordância com os limites estabelecidos pelo TRS-430. Desta forma, conclui-se que foi desenvolvida uma técnica de dosimetria in vivo como parte de um programa de controle da qualidade em radioterapia estereotáxica com filme radiocrômico, já que foram confirmados os parâmetros básicos do comissionamento do sistema de planejamento e a técnica foi validada com o controle de qualidade convencional nos cinco planos analisados. / Radiation therapy of brain lesions near critical structures requires a highly accurate location and dose. The accuracy in dose delivery should be accompanied by an accurate quality control in devices involving the practice. The commissioning of the planning system is to ascertain and confirm the calculations performed by the system, but even with all quality control in the commissioning, there are several aspects that may influence the dosing the target volume, which necessitates the need to make a final assessment at the time of treatment, in vivo. The objective of this work is to develop a technique for in vivo dosimetry as part of quality assurance in stereotactic radiotherapy. In vivo dosimetry technique, we used segments of film radiocrômico, with dimensions of 1x1 cm2, coupled to the external area formed by the micro-collimator blades, Moduleaf. These films were inserted in the central region of the beam. The films were irradiated and calibrated to obtain factors of fields in the configuration of the technique. With these data we designed a computer program which calculates the relative density of a film must acquire when subjected to an exposure in this setting. As the technique of in vivo dosimetry using data from the TPS, validated parameters are the commissioning of the TPS. Complementing the study of in vivo dosimetry were evaluated five non-coplanar plans, the first with 15 fields and the other with 25 fields. Before starting the procedure, the film segment was attached to the unit and after the treatment is the optical density was measured and compared with those calculated by the program developed. At commissioning, all presented on dosimetry percentage differences less than 2%, when comparing the measured results with those calculated by the planning system. In developing the technique of in vivo dosimetry, the mean percent difference dosimetry verification at the time of irradiation compared with the calculated by the sheet was 1.5%, while the absolute dosimetry applied to the conventional quality control has been approved as mean percent difference 2.5% and the gamma function mean was 97.9% of the points agreed with the acceptance criterion % = 2% and D = 2 mm. Therefore, all data are in agreement with the limits set by TRS-430. Thus, we conclude that we have developed a technique for in vivo dosimetry as part of a quality assurance in stereotactic radiotherapy radiocrômico film, since some parameters were confirmed to commissioning the planning system and the technique was validated with control quality standard in five plans analyzed.

Durant la dernière décennie, les développements technologiques en radiothérapie ont transformé considérablement les techniques de traitement. Les nouveaux faisceaux non standard améliorent la conformité de la dose aux volumes cibles, mais également complexifient les procédures dosimétriques. Puisque des études récentes ont démontré l’invalidité de ces protocoles actuels avec les faisceaux non standard, un nouveau protocole applicable à la dosimétrie de référence de ces faisceaux est en préparation par l’IAEA-AAPM. Le but premier de cette étude est de caractériser les facteurs responsables des corrections non unitaires en dosimétrie des faisceaux non standard, et ainsi fournir des solutions conceptuelles afin de minimiser l’ordre de grandeur des corrections proposées dans le nouveau formalisme de l’IAEA-AAPM. Le deuxième but de l’étude est de construire des méthodes servant à estimer les incertitudes d’une manière exacte en dosimétrie non standard, et d’évaluer les niveaux d’incertitudes réalistes pouvant être obtenus dans des situations cliniques. Les résultats de l’étude démontrent que de rapporter la dose au volume sensible de la chambre remplie d’eau réduit la correction d’environ la moitié sous de hauts gradients de dose. Une relation théorique entre le facteur de correction de champs non standard idéaux et le facteur de gradient du champ de référence est obtenue. En dosimétrie par film radiochromique, des niveaux d’incertitude de l’ordre de 0.3% sont obtenus par l’application d’une procédure stricte, ce qui démontre un intérêt potentiel pour les mesures de faisceaux non standard. Les résultats suggèrent également que les incertitudes expérimentales des faisceaux non standard doivent être considérées sérieusement, que ce soit durant les procédures quotidiennes de vérification ou durant les procédures de calibration. De plus, ces incertitudes pourraient être un facteur limitatif dans la nouvelle génération de protocoles. / During the past decade, technological developments in radiation therapy have considerably transformed treatment techniques. Novel nonstandard beams improve target dose conformity, but increase the complexity of dosimetry procedures. As recent studies demonstrated the invalidity of these protocols to nonstandard beams, a new protocol applicable to nonstandard beam reference dosimetry is in preparation by the IAEA-AAPM. The first goal of the study is to characterize the factors responsible for non-unity corrections in nonstandard beam dosimetry, and provide conceptual solutions to minimize the magnitude of the corrections. The second goal is to provide methods to estimate uncertainties accurately in nonstandard beam dosimetry, and estimate uncertainty levels achievable in typical clinical situations. Results of this study show that reporting dose to the sensitive volume of the chamber filled with water reduces the correction factor approximately by half under high gradients. A theoretical expression of correction factor is obtained for ideal nonstandard reference fields. In radiochromic film dosimetry, levels of uncertainty of the order of 0.3% are achieved with strict procedures and show great potential for nonstandard beam measurements. Results also suggest that experimental uncertainties in nonstandard beam are an important issue to consider both during daily QA routine and reference dosimetry, and could be a limiting factor in the new generation of protocols.

A radiocirugia estereotáxica é uma técnica que fornece altas doses de radiação utilizando campos pequenos para conformação da dose no volume alvo do tratamento. Devido à complexidade desta técnica torna-se necessária a verificação da distribuição de dose no volume de tratamento. Neste trabalho, as distribuições tridimensionais (3D) de doses de casos clínicos de neoplasias cranianas foram estudadas utilizando-se um objeto simulador de cabeça. A reconstrução das distribuições de doses nos volumes alvo e nas regiões adjacentes a estes foram avaliadas com o código de simulação PENELOPE, o dosímetro MAGIC-f gel e com o sistema de planejamento iPlan. Filmes radiocrômicos também foram empregados para a determinação das distribuições de dose em planos do tratamento. As respostas obtidas com as ferramentas dosimétricas utilizadas foram analisadas através de distribuições de índices gama, comparando-se os mapas centrais das distribuições de dose obtidas com as quatro ferramentas dosimétricas utilizadas. Usando-se critérios de tolerância de 3% e 3mm, a análise realizada na região da prescrição de dose (isodoses de 95%) mostrou-se equivalente para todas as ferramentas dosimétricas utilizadas; resultado diferente foi observado para isodoses menores, com uma equivalência máxima de 76,5%. As distribuições volumétricas, obtidas através do PENELOPE, MAGIC-f gel e o iPlan, foram comparadas, ainda, através dos histogramas dose-volume, para cada caso estudado, mostrando que 95% da dose absorvida relativa encontra-se dentro do volume alvo para todos os planos estudados. A probabilidade de controle tumoral, TCP, foi avaliada para os casos de radiocirurgia estudados, a partir das distribuições volumétricas de dose, resultando em uma probabilidade de controle tumoral máxima de 72%, para todos os casos, conforme o modelo matemático de TCP utilizado. Das comparações realizadas pode-se inferir que o dosímetro MAGIC-f gel e o código de simulação PENELOPE-Monte Carlo podem ser utilizados para determinar as distribuições de dose em 3D para a técnica de radiocirurgia estereotáxica. Essas ferramentas dosimétricas podem, dessa forma, auxiliar no comissionamento de unidades de terapia e em verificações 3D de doses do tratamento dos pacientes, permitindo avaliações dentro e ao redor do volume alvo e podendo se tornar ferramentais de rotina nos serviços de radioterapia. / Stereotactic radiosurgery is a technique which delivers high radiation doses using small fields to conform the absorbed dose into the target volume. Due to the complexity of this technique it is necessary to verify the dose distribution in the treatment volume. Thus, in this study the three-dimensional (3D) dose distributions of selected clinical cases of cranial tumors were obtained using a head phantom. The the dose distributions of target volumes and adjacent regions were evaluated with PENELOPE Monte Carlo simulation code, MAGIC-f dosimeter and iPlan® treatment planning system. Radiochromic films were also used to determine the dose distribution on selected plans of the treatment. The obtained results for the proposed dosimetric tools were analyzed by the gamma index distributions, comparing the maps of the central dose distributions obtained with the four dosimetric tools. Using the dose criteria of 3% in 3 mm, the gamma index test showed equivalence in the region of dose prescription (95% isodose) and a different result was observed for lower isodoses, with maximum accordance of 76.5%. The volumetric dose distributions obtained with PENELOPE, MAGIC-f and iPlan were also compared using the dose-volume histograms for each studied case, showing that 95% of the absorbed dose yield within the target volume. The tumor control probability, TCP, was evaluated for the studied radiosurgery cases, from the dose distributions-volumetric, resulting in a maximum probability of tumor control of 72% for all cases, for the used mathematical model of TCP. From the results it can be inferred that the MAGIC-f gel dosimeter and the PENELOPE Monte Carlo simulation code can be used to determine 3D dose distributions for stereotactic radiosurgery. These dosimetric tools can assist the commissioning of treatment units and 3D dose verifications of patients treatments, allowing assessments in and around the target volume and may become routine in radiotherapy services.

<p>Traditional dosimetric devices are inherently point dose dosimeters (PDDs) and can only measure the magnitude of the radiation exposure; hence, they are one-dimensional (1D). To measure the magnitude and spatial location of dose within a volume either several PDDs must be used at one time, or one PDD must be translated from point-to-point. Using PDDs for spatially distributed, two-dimensional (2D), dosimetry is laborious, time consuming, limited in spatial resolution, susceptible to positioning errors, and the currently accepted approach to measuring dose distribution in 2D. This work seeks to expand the current limits of indirectly ionizing radiation dosimetry by using radiochromic film (RCF) for a high-resolution, accurate dosimetry system. Using RCF will extend the current field of radiation dosimetry to spatially quantitative 2D and three-dimensional (3D) measurements. </p> <p>This work was generalized into two aims. The first aim was the development of the RCF dosimetry system; it was accomplished by characterizing the film and the readout devices and developing a method to calibrate film response for absolute dose measurements. The second aim was to apply the RCF dosimetry system to three areas of dosimetry that were inherently volumetric and could benefit from multiple dimensional (2D or 3D) dose analysis. These areas were representative of a broad range of radiation energy levels and were: low-mammography, intermediate-computed tomography (CT), and high-radiobiologcal small animal irradiation and cancer patient treatment verification. The application of a single dosimeter over a broad range of energy levels is currently unavailable for most traditional dosimeters, and thus, was used to demonstrate the robustness and flexibility of the RCF dosimetry system.</p> <p>Two types of RCF were characterized for this work: EBT and XRQA film. Both films were investigated for: radiation interaction with film structure; light interaction with film structure for optimal film readout (densitometry) sensitivity; range of absorbed dose measurements; dependence of film dose measurement response as a function of changing radiation energy; fractionation and dose rate effects on film measurement response; film response sensitivity to ambient factors; and stability of measured film response with time. EBT film was shown to have the following properties: near water equivalent atomic weight (Z_eff); dynamic dose range of (10<super>-1</super>-10<super>2</super>) Gy; 3% change in optical density (OD) response for a single exposure level when exposed to radiation energies from (75-18,000) kV; and best digitized using transmission densitometry. XRQA film was shown to have: a Zeff of ~25; a 12 fold increase in sensitivity at lower photon energies for a dynamic dose range of 10-3-100 Gy, a difference of 25% in OD response when comparing 120 kV to 320 kV, and best digitized using reflective densitometry. Both XRQA and EBT films were shown to have: a temporal stability (&#916;OD) of ~1% for t > 24 hr post film exposure for up to ~20 days; a change in dose response of ~0.03 mGy hr-1 when exposed to fluorescent room lighting at standard room temperature and humidity levels; a negligible dose rate and fractionation effect when operated within the optimal dose ranges; and a light wavelength dependence with dose for film readout.</p> <p>The flat bed scanner was chosen as the primary film digitizer due to its availability, cost, OD range, functionality (transmission and reflection scanning), and digitization speed. As a cost verses functionality comparison, the intrinsic and operational limitations were determined for two flat bed scanners. The EPSON V700 and 10000XL exhibited equal spatial and OD accuracy. The combined precision of both the scanner light sources and CCD sensors measured < 2% and < 7% deviation in pixel light intensities for 50 consecutive scans, respectively. Both scanner light sources were shown to be uniform in transmission and reflection scan modes along the center axis of light source translation. Additionally, RCFs demonstrated a larger dynamic range in pixel light intensities, and to be less sensitive to off axis light inhomogeneity, when scanned in landscape mode (long axis of film parallel with axis of light source translation). The EPSON 10000XL demonstrated slightly better light source/CCD temporal stability and provided a capacity to scan larger film formats at the center of the scanner in landscape mode. However, the EPSON V700 only measured an overall difference in accuracy and precision by 2%, and though smaller in size, at the time of this work, was one sixth the cost of the 10000XL. A scan protocol was developed to maximize RCF digitization accuracy and precision, and a calibration fitting function was developed for RCF absolute dosimetry. The fitting function demonstrated a superior goodness of fit for both RCF types over a large range of absorbed dose levels as compared to the currently accepted function found in literature.</p> <p>The RCF dosimetry system was applied to three novel areas from which a benefit could be derived for 2D or 3D dosimetric information. The first area was for a 3D dosimetry of a pendant breast in 3D-CT mammography. The novel method of developing a volumetric image of the breast from a CT acquisition technique was empirically measured for its dosimetry and compared to standard dual field digital mammography. The second area was dose reduction in CT for pediatric and adult scan protocols. In this application, novel methodologies were developed to measure 3D organ dosimetry and characterize a dose reduction scan protocol for pediatric and adult body habitus. The third area was in the field of small animal irradiation for radiobiology purposes and cancer patient treatment verification. Two methods for small animal irradiation were analyzed for their dosimetry. The first technique was within a gamma irradiator environment using a <super>137</super>Cs source (663 keV), and the second, a novel approach to mouse irradiation, was developed for fast neutron (10 MeV) irradiated by a Tandem Van de Graff accelerator in a <super>2</super>H(d,n)<super>3</super>He reaction. For the patient cancer treatment, RCF was used to verify a 3D radiochromic plastic, PRESAGETM, using multi-leaf collimation (MLC) on a medical linear accelerator (LINAC) with 6 MV x-rays. The RCF and PRESAGE<super>TM</super> dosimeters were employed to verify a simple respiratory-gated lung treatment for a small nodule; the film was considered the gold standard. In every case, the RCF dosimetry system was verified for accuracy using a traditional PDD as the golden standard. When considering all areas of radiation energy applications, the RCF dosimetry system agreed to better than 7% of the golden standard, and in some cases within better than 1%. In many instances, this work provided vital dosimetric information that otherwise was not captured using the PDD in similar geometry. This work demonstrates the need for RCF to more accurately measure volumetric dose.</p> / Dissertation

Durant la dernière décennie, les développements technologiques en radiothérapie ont transformé considérablement les techniques de traitement. Les nouveaux faisceaux non standard améliorent la conformité de la dose aux volumes cibles, mais également complexifient les procédures dosimétriques. Puisque des études récentes ont démontré l’invalidité de ces protocoles actuels avec les faisceaux non standard, un nouveau protocole applicable à la dosimétrie de référence de ces faisceaux est en préparation par l’IAEA-AAPM. Le but premier de cette étude est de caractériser les facteurs responsables des corrections non unitaires en dosimétrie des faisceaux non standard, et ainsi fournir des solutions conceptuelles afin de minimiser l’ordre de grandeur des corrections proposées dans le nouveau formalisme de l’IAEA-AAPM. Le deuxième but de l’étude est de construire des méthodes servant à estimer les incertitudes d’une manière exacte en dosimétrie non standard, et d’évaluer les niveaux d’incertitudes réalistes pouvant être obtenus dans des situations cliniques. Les résultats de l’étude démontrent que de rapporter la dose au volume sensible de la chambre remplie d’eau réduit la correction d’environ la moitié sous de hauts gradients de dose. Une relation théorique entre le facteur de correction de champs non standard idéaux et le facteur de gradient du champ de référence est obtenue. En dosimétrie par film radiochromique, des niveaux d’incertitude de l’ordre de 0.3% sont obtenus par l’application d’une procédure stricte, ce qui démontre un intérêt potentiel pour les mesures de faisceaux non standard. Les résultats suggèrent également que les incertitudes expérimentales des faisceaux non standard doivent être considérées sérieusement, que ce soit durant les procédures quotidiennes de vérification ou durant les procédures de calibration. De plus, ces incertitudes pourraient être un facteur limitatif dans la nouvelle génération de protocoles. / During the past decade, technological developments in radiation therapy have considerably transformed treatment techniques. Novel nonstandard beams improve target dose conformity, but increase the complexity of dosimetry procedures. As recent studies demonstrated the invalidity of these protocols to nonstandard beams, a new protocol applicable to nonstandard beam reference dosimetry is in preparation by the IAEA-AAPM. The first goal of the study is to characterize the factors responsible for non-unity corrections in nonstandard beam dosimetry, and provide conceptual solutions to minimize the magnitude of the corrections. The second goal is to provide methods to estimate uncertainties accurately in nonstandard beam dosimetry, and estimate uncertainty levels achievable in typical clinical situations. Results of this study show that reporting dose to the sensitive volume of the chamber filled with water reduces the correction factor approximately by half under high gradients. A theoretical expression of correction factor is obtained for ideal nonstandard reference fields. In radiochromic film dosimetry, levels of uncertainty of the order of 0.3% are achieved with strict procedures and show great potential for nonstandard beam measurements. Results also suggest that experimental uncertainties in nonstandard beam are an important issue to consider both during daily QA routine and reference dosimetry, and could be a limiting factor in the new generation of protocols.

A radiocirugia estereotáxica é uma técnica que fornece altas doses de radiação utilizando campos pequenos para conformação da dose no volume alvo do tratamento. Devido à complexidade desta técnica torna-se necessária a verificação da distribuição de dose no volume de tratamento. Neste trabalho, as distribuições tridimensionais (3D) de doses de casos clínicos de neoplasias cranianas foram estudadas utilizando-se um objeto simulador de cabeça. A reconstrução das distribuições de doses nos volumes alvo e nas regiões adjacentes a estes foram avaliadas com o código de simulação PENELOPE, o dosímetro MAGIC-f gel e com o sistema de planejamento iPlan. Filmes radiocrômicos também foram empregados para a determinação das distribuições de dose em planos do tratamento. As respostas obtidas com as ferramentas dosimétricas utilizadas foram analisadas através de distribuições de índices gama, comparando-se os mapas centrais das distribuições de dose obtidas com as quatro ferramentas dosimétricas utilizadas. Usando-se critérios de tolerância de 3% e 3mm, a análise realizada na região da prescrição de dose (isodoses de 95%) mostrou-se equivalente para todas as ferramentas dosimétricas utilizadas; resultado diferente foi observado para isodoses menores, com uma equivalência máxima de 76,5%. As distribuições volumétricas, obtidas através do PENELOPE, MAGIC-f gel e o iPlan, foram comparadas, ainda, através dos histogramas dose-volume, para cada caso estudado, mostrando que 95% da dose absorvida relativa encontra-se dentro do volume alvo para todos os planos estudados. A probabilidade de controle tumoral, TCP, foi avaliada para os casos de radiocirurgia estudados, a partir das distribuições volumétricas de dose, resultando em uma probabilidade de controle tumoral máxima de 72%, para todos os casos, conforme o modelo matemático de TCP utilizado. Das comparações realizadas pode-se inferir que o dosímetro MAGIC-f gel e o código de simulação PENELOPE-Monte Carlo podem ser utilizados para determinar as distribuições de dose em 3D para a técnica de radiocirurgia estereotáxica. Essas ferramentas dosimétricas podem, dessa forma, auxiliar no comissionamento de unidades de terapia e em verificações 3D de doses do tratamento dos pacientes, permitindo avaliações dentro e ao redor do volume alvo e podendo se tornar ferramentais de rotina nos serviços de radioterapia. / Stereotactic radiosurgery is a technique which delivers high radiation doses using small fields to conform the absorbed dose into the target volume. Due to the complexity of this technique it is necessary to verify the dose distribution in the treatment volume. Thus, in this study the three-dimensional (3D) dose distributions of selected clinical cases of cranial tumors were obtained using a head phantom. The the dose distributions of target volumes and adjacent regions were evaluated with PENELOPE Monte Carlo simulation code, MAGIC-f dosimeter and iPlan® treatment planning system. Radiochromic films were also used to determine the dose distribution on selected plans of the treatment. The obtained results for the proposed dosimetric tools were analyzed by the gamma index distributions, comparing the maps of the central dose distributions obtained with the four dosimetric tools. Using the dose criteria of 3% in 3 mm, the gamma index test showed equivalence in the region of dose prescription (95% isodose) and a different result was observed for lower isodoses, with maximum accordance of 76.5%. The volumetric dose distributions obtained with PENELOPE, MAGIC-f and iPlan were also compared using the dose-volume histograms for each studied case, showing that 95% of the absorbed dose yield within the target volume. The tumor control probability, TCP, was evaluated for the studied radiosurgery cases, from the dose distributions-volumetric, resulting in a maximum probability of tumor control of 72% for all cases, for the used mathematical model of TCP. From the results it can be inferred that the MAGIC-f gel dosimeter and the PENELOPE Monte Carlo simulation code can be used to determine 3D dose distributions for stereotactic radiosurgery. These dosimetric tools can assist the commissioning of treatment units and 3D dose verifications of patients treatments, allowing assessments in and around the target volume and may become routine in radiotherapy services.