DIODE DOSIMETRY

Name : Aayushi Paul

Designation : Observer
Department : Radiation Oncology
 DOSIMETRY
Measurement, calculation and determination of the amount of ionising
radiation absorbed by a substance or a living organism by means of a
dosimeter as a result of which one can establish a relationship between
the administered radiation dose and the absorbed dose.

Unit of measurement of absorbed dose - Gray (Gy) [J/Kg]

Categories of Radiation dosimetry :-

1. Absolute Dosimetry - Establishes absorbed dose or some other dose
related quantity directly from the dosimeter signal
2. Relative Dosimetry - Use of a dosimeter having a second standard like
film dosimeters.
 In vivo & In vitro
dosimetry
In vivo dosimetry -
Direct monitoring of the radiation dose received by the patient during
treatment. Example - diode dosimetry

In vitro dosimetry -
Dose measurement in an environment which is very different from the
body tissues of the patient. The dosimetry is usually carried out using a
phantom.
 Diode Dosimetry
Diodes are used as small detectors
which are attached to long wires to
measure the dose received ‘real time’
whilst the radiotherapy treatment.
They are attached to the body at specific
points where the beam enters the body.
In the radiotherapy application, ionising
radiation induces a current in the diode
which is proportional to the dose rate of
the radiation passing through the diode.
The diodes must be connected to an
electrometer top that measures the
current and integrates it with time. This
is thus proportional to the dose.
 DOSIMETER CHARACTERISTICS
➔ Precision : The precision of dosimetry measurements specifies the reproducibility of
the measurements under similar conditions.
➔ Accuracy : The accuracy of dosimetry measurements is the proximity of their
expectation value to the true value of the measured quantity.
➔ Linearity : Ideally, the dosimeter reading should be linearly proportional to the
dosimetric quantity.
➔ Dose Rate Dependence : Ideally, the response of a dosimetry system at two different
dose rate should remain constant. In case of changes, correction terms are
introduced into the dosimeter reading.
➔ Directional Dependence : Variation is response of a dosimeter with angle of
incidence of radiation.
➔ Energy Dependence : Response of a dosimetry system is generally a function of
radiation beam quality. Since the dosimetry system are calibrated at a specified
radiation beam quality, and used over a much wider range of energy, the variation of
the response of the dosimeter with radiation quality, requires correction. Ideally, the
energy response is flat.
 Factors affecting Diode Response

➔ Angular Dependence : Diodes are large and anisotropic.

➔ Temperature : Leakage current is temperature dependent.
➔ Dose Rate : Diode response is a function of dose rate. The
generated current is also dependent on the combination
rate. The rate of minority carrier increases when the
instantaneous rate is increased. (short SSD)
➔ Field Size
 Diodes used in In Vivo Dosimetry
(T600/DMP) Yellow (T600/DHP) Red
Application Entrance/ Exit Dose Entrance/Exit Dose

● Energy Range
● Photons (5-13 Mv) ● Photons (13-25 Mv)
● Build up Material
● Lead ● Tungsten
● Response Type
● 10 nC/Gy ● 10 nC/Gy
● Sensitivity with
● 0.4%/k ● 0.4%/k
Temperature
Diodes used in In Vivo Dosimetry
THANK YOU !