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An easy method to account for light scattering dose dependence in radiochromic films
Author(s) -
Miras Hector,
Arrans Rafael
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
medical physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.473
H-Index - 180
eISSN - 2473-4209
pISSN - 0094-2405
DOI - 10.1118/1.3176892
Subject(s) - dosimetry , optics , calibration , materials science , scattering , detector , dose profile , range (aeronautics) , percentage depth dose curve , image resolution , ionization chamber , physics , nuclear medicine , imaging phantom , ion , medicine , quantum mechanics , composite material , ionization
Purpose: To date no detector can offer the unbeatable characteristics of film dosimetry in terms of spatial resolution and this is why it has been chosen by many institutions for treatment verification and, in that respect, radiochromic films are becoming increasingly popular due to their advantageous properties. It is the aim of this work to suggest an easy method to overcome one of the drawbacks in radiochromic film dosimetry associated with the scanning device, namely, the non‐uniform dose dependent response, mainly due to the light scattering effect. Methods: The suggested procedure consists of building four correction matrices by sequentially scanning one, two, three, and four unexposed blank films. The color level of these four matrices is compatible with four points in the calibration curve dose range. Therefore, the dose dependent correction to the scanned irradiated film will be obtained by interpolating between the four correction matrices. Results: The validity of the suggested method is checked against an ion chamber 2D array. The use of the proposed flattening correction improves considerably the dose agreement when compared with the cases in which no correction is applied. Conclusions: The method showed to be fast and easy and practically overcomes the dependence on the dose of light scattering of flatbed scanners.