6.1 Introduction Proper immobilization techniques accomplish a variety of clinical goals including the following: ▪ Reduce patient motion and improve day-to-day reproducibility of setup. External beam treatments typically require several tens of minutes to complete, and during this time the…
5.1 Introduction In modern radiotherapy the vast majority of dose calculations are performed by computerized systems. There may be minor exceptions such as radiopharmaceuticals used in nuclear medicine. The system may calculate all or some of the following: point doses,…
4.1 Introduction Comprehensive acceptance testing and commissioning of new equipment are the foundations for the safe implementation of new technology in a Radiation Oncology department. Once the unit is in clinical use, a routine quality assurance (QA) program must be…
3.1 Introduction In-vivo dosimetry is used clinically to verify during treatment how accurately the planned dose is delivered to the patient. While American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) TG-62, Diode In-Vivo Dosimetry for Patients Receiving External Beam Radiation Therapy,…
2.1 Introduction Since the basic physics of dosimetry for radiation beams is extensively covered in textbooks on radiotherapy physics, this chapter will focus on the measurement of dosimetry data in clinical practice. There are two main goals in measuring relative…
1.1 Introduction The key to the accurate delivery of radiation is the ability to establish the absolute dose delivered. In radiation therapy clinical practice the primary tool used to measure absorbed dose is the ion chamber. The use of ion…