• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2006

In order to apply the TRS-398 dosimetry protocol developed by IAEA we directly calculated the quality correction factors for high energy photons. The calculations were peformed for seven commercial cylindrical chambers (A12, IC70, N23333, N30001, N30006, NE2571, PR06C/G). In comparison with quality correction factors given by TRS-398 our results were in good agreement within ${\pm}0.3%$ (maximum ${\pm}0.3%$) for all chambers and photon qualities.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.194-201
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• 2007

Although Gamma Knife irradiates much more radiation in a single session than conventional radiotherapy, there were only a few studies to measure absolute dose of a Gamma Knife. Especially, there is no report of application of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) TRS-398 which requires to use a water phantom in radiation measurement to Gamma Knife. In this article, the authors reported results of the experiments to measure the absorbed dose to water of a Gamma Knife Model C using the IAEA TRS-398 protocol. The absorbed dose to water of a Gamma Knife model C was measured using a water phantom under conditions as close as possible to the IAEA TRS-398 protocol. The obtained results were compared with values measured using the plastic phantom provided by the Gamma Knife manufacturer. Two Capintec PR-05P mini-chambers and a PTW UNIDOS electrometer were used in measurements. The absorbed dose to water of a Gamma Knife model C inside the water phantom was 1.38% larger than that of the plastic phantom. The current protocol provided by the manufacturer has an intrinsic error stems from the fact that a plastic phantom is used instead of a water phantom. In conclusion, it is not possible to fully apply IAEA TRS-398 to measurement of absorbed dose of a Gamma Knife. Instead, it can be a practical choice to build a new protocol for Gamma Knife or to provide a conversion factor from a water phantom to the plastic phantom. The conversion factor can be obtained in one or two standard laboratories.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.123-127
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• 2014

The Cs-137 irradiator is widely used to irradiate biological samples for radiobiological research. To obtain the accurate outcomes, correct measurements of the delivered absorbed dose to a sample is important. The IAEA protocols such as TRS-277 and TRS-398 were recommended for the Cs-137 reference dosimetry. However in TRS-398 protocol, currently known as the most practical dosimetry protocol, the quality factor ($k_{Q,Q_0}$) for Cs-137 gamma rays is not suggested. Therefore, the use of TRS-398 protocol is currently unavailable for the Cs-137 dosimetry directly. The calculation method previously introduced for high energy photon beams in radiotherapy was used for deriving the Cs-137 beam qualities ($k_{Q,Q_0}$) for the 15 commercially available farmer type ionization chambers in this study. In conclusion, $k_{Q,Q_0}$ values were ranged from 0.998 to 1.002 for Cs-137 gamma rays. These results can be used as the reference and dosimeter calibrations for Cs-137 gamma rays in the future radiobiological researches.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.148-154
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• 2011

The quality factors ($k_{Q,Q_0}$) were evaluated by appling the results recently studied for the effect of central electrode in TRS-398 protocol. The PTW-31010 and IBA-CC13 chambers were used in this study. The quality factors were calculated as a function of beam quality for high energy electron and photon beams and compared with data currently used in TRS-398 protocol. In the PTW-31010 chamber using aluminium electrode, appling the new central electrode collections, the quality factors were 0.4% and 0.9% higher than current TRS-398 data for high energy photon and electron beams respectively. In the IBA-CC13 chamber using C-552 electrode, there are no variations in quality factors compared to TRS-398 data currently used.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.89-95
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• 2008

The quality correction factor for used beam and qualities is strongly required for clinical dosimetry by TRS-398 protocol of IAEA. In this study the quality correction factors for a commercial plane-parallel ionization chamber in high energy electron beams were calculated by Monte Carlo code(DOSRZnrc/EGSnrc). In comparison of quality correction factor, the difference between this study and TRS-398 were within 1% in 5-20 MeV. In case of 4MeV the difference was 1.9%. As an independent method of determination of quality correction factor this study can be applied to evaluate values in the protocol or calculate the factor for a new chamber.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.178-184
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• 2015

The Markus ionization chamber(R) is a small plane parallel ionization chamber widely used in clinical electron beam dosimetry. Plane parallel chambers were recommended for low energy electron dosimetry with the beam quality at $R_{50}<4.0g/cm^2$ (${\bar{E}}{\approx}10MeV$) according to TRS-398 protocol. However, the quality correction factors ($k_{Q,Q_0}$) of the Markus chamber was not presented in TRS-398 protocol for electron beam quality at $R_{50}<2.0g/cm^2$ (${\bar{E}}{\approx}4MeV$). In this study, the $k_{Q,Q_0}$ factors of the Markus chambers (PTW-34045) for beam qualities at $R_{50}=1.0$, 1.4, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, and $5.0g/cm^2$ were determined by Monte Carlo calculations (DOSRZnrc/EGSnrc) and the dosimetric formalism of quality correction factor. The derived $k_{Q,Q_0}$ values were evaluated using the produced data based on TRS-398 and TG-51 protocols and known values for the Markus chamber.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.249-258
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• 2003

A few years ago, a proposal was made to change the dosimetry from the air kerma-based reference dosimetry to the absorbed dose-based reference dosimetry for all radiotherapy beams of ionizing radiation to improve the accuracy of dosimetry. Here, we present a dosimetry study in which the two most widespread absorbed dose­based protocols (IAEA TRS­398 and AAPM TG­51) were compared with an air kerma­based protocol (IAEA TRS-277) by measuring the absorbed dose in the same reference depth. Measurements were performed in three clinical electron beam energies using a PTW 30002 cylindrical chamber, and Markus and Roos plane­parallel chambers. $^{60}$ Co calibration factors were obtained from the KFDA. The absorbed dose differences between the air kerma­based and absorbed dose­based protocols were within 2.0% for all chambers in all beams. The results thus show that the obtained absolute dose values will be not significantly altered by changing from the air kerma­based dosimetry to the absorbed dose­based dosimetry. It was also shown that absorbed dose values between the absorbed dose­based protocols agreed by deviations of less than 0.5% for a cylindrical chamber and less than 0.7% for plane­parallel chambers using cross­calibration factors. Although the use of a cylindrical chamber and plane­parallel chambers resulted in a difference of less than 2% for all situations investigated here, to reduce errors, the plane­parallel chambers are recommended for electron energies in which the use of cylindrical chamber is not permitted in each protocol.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2015

The C-band compact linear accelerator (linac) is being developed at Dongnam Institute of radiological & Medical Sciences (DIRAMS) for medical and industrial applications. This paper was focused on the output measurement of the electron beam generated from the prototype electron linac. The dose rate was measured in unit of cGy/min per unit pulse frequency according to the IAEA TRS-398 protocol. Exradin-A10 Markus type plane parallel chamber used for the measurement was calibrated in terms of dose to water at the reference depth in water. The beam quality index ($R_{50}$) was determined by the radiochromic film with a solid water phantom approximately due to low energy electrons. As a result, the determined electron beam output was $17.0cGy/(min{\cdot}Hz$. The results were used to monitor the accelerator performance during the development procedure.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.381-390
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• 2002

Purpose : To develop a dose calibration program for the IAEA TRS-277 and AAPM TG-21, based on the air kerma calibration factor (or the cavity-gas calibration factor), as well as for the IAEA TRS-398 and the AAPM TG-51, based on the absorbed dose to water calibration factor, so as to avoid the unwanted error associated with these calculation procedures. Materials and Methods : Currently, the most widely used dosimetry Protocols of high energy photon beams are the air kerma calibration factor based on the IAEA TRS-277 and the AAPM TG-21. However, this has somewhat complex formalism and limitations for the improvement of the accuracy due to uncertainties of the physical quantities. Recently, the IAEA and the AAPM published the absorbed dose to water calibration factor based, on the IAEA TRS-398 and the AAPM TG-51. The formalism and physical parameters were strictly applied to these four dose calibration programs. The tables and graphs of physical data and the information for ion chambers were numericalized for their incorporation into a database. These programs were developed user to be friendly, with the Visual $C^{++}$ language for their ease of use in a Windows environment according to the recommendation of each protocols. Results : The dose calibration programs for the high energy photon beams, developed for the four protocols, allow the input of informations about a dosimetry system, the characteristics of the beam quality, the measurement conditions and dosimetry results, to enable the minimization of any inter-user variations and errors, during the calculation procedure. Also, it was possible to compare the absorbed dose to water data of the four different protocols at a single reference points. Conclusion : Since this program expressed information in numerical and data-based forms for the physical parameter tables, graphs and of the ion chambers, the error associated with the procedures and different user could be solved. It was possible to analyze and compare the major difference for each dosimetry protocol, since the program was designed to be user friendly and to accurately calculate the correction factors and absorbed dose. It is expected that accurate dose calculations in high energy photon beams can be made by the users for selecting and performing the appropriate dosimetry protocol.

• Progress in Medical Physics
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.175-183
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• 2003

Absorbed dose dosimetry protocols of high energy photon and electron beams, which are widely used and based on an air kerma (or exposure) calibration factors, have somewhat complex formalism and limitations for improving dosimetric accuracy due to the uncertainty of the physical parameters used. Recently, the IAEA and the AAPM published the absorbed dose to water-based dosimetry protocols(IAEA TRS-398 and AAPM TG-51). The dose calibration programs for these two protocols were developed. This program for high energy photon and electron beams was also developed for users to use in a window environment using the Visual C++ language. The formalism and physical parameters of these two protocols were strictly applied to the program. The tables and graphs of the physical data, and the information of ion chambers were numericalized for their incorporation into a database. This program can be useful in developing new dosimetry protocols in Korea.