3D source tracking and error detection in HDR using two independent scintillator dosimetry systems

Abstract

The high dose gradients near the source characteristics of brachytherapy are equivalent to nefarious effects if unnoticed errors take place during the patient treatment. In vivo dosimetry is the only method to quantify the delivered dose. Previous studies to this one, have characterized potential detectors that can be used as in vivo dosimeter. Some of them have focused on the source tracking topic in HDR brachytherapy. The aim of this study is to perform 3D source position reconstruction by combining in vivo dosimetry measurements from two independent detector systems. The first was based on multiple (three) plastic scintillator detectors and the second on a single inorganic crystal (CsI:Tl). By combining two detector responses, we enabled the determination of the absolute source coordinates in 3D space. The method in this study proposed can be extended to the combination of different systems.