IAEA/WHO postal dosimetry audit methodology for electron beams using radio photoluminescent dosimeters

BACKGROUNDIndependent dosimetry audits are an important intervention in radiotherapy for quality assurance. Electron beams, used for superficial radiotherapy treatments, must also be tested in dosimetry audits as part of a good quality assurance program to help prevent clinical errors.PURPOSETo establish a new service for IAEA/WHO postal dosimetry audits in electron beams using RPL dosimeters.METHODSA novel postal audit methodology employing a PMMA holder system for RPLDs was developed. The associated correction factors including holder dependence, energy dependence, dose response non-linearity, and fading were obtained and tested in a multi-center (n = 12) pilot study. A measurement uncertainty budget was estimated and employed in analyzing the irradiated dosimeters.RESULTSHolder and energy correction factors ranged from 1.004 to 1.010 and 1.019 to 1.059 respectively across the energy range. The non-linearity and fading correction models used for photon beams were tested in electron beams and did not significantly increase measurement uncertainty. The mean dose ratio ± SD of the multi-center study was 1.001 ± 0.011. The overall uncertainty budget was estimated as ± 1.42% (k = 1).CONCLUSIONSA methodology for IAEA/WHO postal dosimetry audits in electron beams was developed and validated in a multi-center study and is now made available to radiotherapy centers as a routine service.