3D Radiation Dosimetry Research Group

Three dimensional radiotherapy dose verification

Currently, the advent of complex radiotherapy treatments such as volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) has outpaced developments in radiation dosimeters capable in measuring radiation dose in 3D and with high spatial and dosimetric accuracy and precision. Our research program involves the development and application of radiosensitive polymer gel dosimeters for use in radiotherapy dose verification. The program is a collaborative effort between physics, oncology, and engineering. Typical research areas include, but are not limited to:

  • Development of high dose-sensitivity polymer gel dosimeters for use with x-ray CT imaging for dose information extraction.
  • Characterization of the accuracy and precision of x-ray CT polymer gel dosimetry.
  • Development of fan-beam optical CT scanning for dose information extraction from irradiated 3D dosimeters.
  • Application of polymer gel dosimetry to “end-to-end” dosimetry.
  • In collaboration with researchers at Carleton University, the application of polymer gel dosimetry to the understanding and verification of deformable dose calculation algorithms.
  • The development of image processing techniques for signal extraction from gel dosimetry data.
(a) X-ray CT image of irradiated polymer gel dosimeter with overlaid treatment plan isodose lines.

(a) X-ray CT image of irradiated polymer gel dosimeter with overlaid treatment plan isodose lines.

(b) Representative dose profiles through (a).

(b) Representative dose profiles through (a).