Polarized dosimetry method for Gafchromic EBT3.

PURPOSE: To analyze the changes in the polarization state of the flatbed scanner light caused by the EBT3 films and to propose a new method for correcting the lateral effects. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The polarization changes induced by radiochromic films are analyzed using linear polarizing film. Based on the results, the linear polarizing films are used in the scanning process of the EBT3 films. This method is tested against the conventional EBT3 dosimetry using a series of simple regular beams and 21 cases of IMRT. RESULTS: The mean results are statically different from the conventional dosimetry with EBT3. Depending on the transmission axis of the polarizing sheet, the results are better or worse compared to conventional dosimetry EBT3 film. When the transmission axis of the polarizing sheet is parallel to the coating direction, the dosimetry results are better and its variability is smaller. However, when the polarizer transmission axis is perpendicular to the coating direction, results are worse as well as its variability. CONCLUSION: Using a polarized film with the polarization axis parallel to the coating direction of the radiochromic film, and preferably above it, significantly improves the dosimetry results and is an easy and inexpensive way to correct the lateral artifacts of the conventional EBT3 dosimetry.

A new method to measure electron density and effective atomic number using dual-energy CT images.

The purpose of this work is to present a new method to extract the electron density ([Formula: see text]) and the effective atomic number (Z eff) from dual-energy CT images, based on a Karhunen-Loeve expansion (KLE) of the atomic cross section per electron. This method was used to calibrate a Siemens Definition CT using the CIRS phantom. The predicted electron density and effective atomic number using 80 kVp and 140 kVp were compared with a calibration phantom and an independent set of samples. The mean absolute deviations between the theoretical and calculated values for all the samples were 1.7 % ± 0.1 % for [Formula: see text] and 4.1 % ± 0.3 % for Z eff. Finally, these results were compared with other stoichiometric method. The application of the KLE to represent the atomic cross section per electron is a promising method for calculating [Formula: see text] and Z eff using dual-energy CT images.

Improving the calibration of radiochromic films by the use of uncertainties in optical density and dose.

PURPOSE: To compare how the inclusion of the uncertainties in dose and optical density affects the results of the calibration of Gafchromic(®) EBT3 radiochromic films. METHODS: Five methods of least square minimization were compared for calibration of radiochromic films. These differed in the way in which the uncertainties of dose and optical density are taken into account. The comparison was made by simulating the calibration fit at an increasing number of points measured in the calibration table and in the gamma analysis of ten real IMRT verifications. RESULTS: According to the results of the simulations, the methods that take into account all the variability in dose and optical density are superior to those that do not use them. The improvements are reflected in lower bias of the parameters, lower variability and faster convergence when the number of the points increases in the calibration table. When these methods are employed in the gamma analysis comparison, the statistical significance of the results depends on how restrictive the parameters are that define this comparison. CONCLUSIONS: Methods that take into account all the variability both in dose and in optical density should be used in the calibration process.