Novel EBT3 film calibration using an integrated HSV color space analysis.

Purpose: Radiochromic EBT3 films are commonly used as dosimeter for clinical practice and research on radiotherapy. In principle, they are associated with a flatbed scanner to determine the optical density change, which can be correlated to the absorbed dose after calibration. Several approaches have been proposed to reduce the uncertainties during acquisition and to compensate the lighting inhomogeneities, thus improving the dose measurement.

Out-of-field doses from radiotherapy using photon beams: A comparative study for a pediatric renal treatment.

Purpose: First, this experimental study aims at comparing out-of-field doses delivered by three radiotherapy techniques (3DCRT, VMAT (two different accelerators), and tomotherapy) for a pediatric renal treatment. Secondly, the accuracy of treatment planning systems (TPS) for out-of-field calculation is evaluated.

Methods: EBT3 films were positioned in pediatric phantoms (5 and 10 yr old).

EURADOS intercomparison exercise on Monte Carlo modelling of a medical linear accelerator.

Background: In radiotherapy, Monte Carlo (MC) methods are considered a gold standard to calculate accurate dose distributions, particularly in heterogeneous tissues. EURADOS organized an international comparison with six participants applying different MC models to a real medical linear accelerator and to one homogeneous and four heterogeneous dosimetric phantoms.

Aims: The aim of this exercise was to identify, by comparison of different MC models with a complete experimental dataset, critical aspects useful for MC users to build and calibrate a simulation and perform a dosimetric analysis.

Development of a 4D numerical chest phantom with customizable breathing.

Respiratory movement information is useful for radiation therapy, and is generally obtained using 4D scanners (4DCT). In the interest of patient safety, reducing the use of 4DCT could be a significant step in reducing radiation exposure, the effects of which are not well documented. The authors propose a customized 4D numerical phantom representing the organ contours.