Solid-state detector dosimetry for male gonads radioprotection in radiotherapy

Basic clinical interest and, in some cases, regulatory recommendations request measurement or, at least, estimation of the dose to the male gonads in radiotherapic treatments. Subdiaphragmatic, rectal and post-surgical seminoma target treatments in adults have been taken into account. The proximity of target volume or the particular request for fertility evaluation make the problem more relevant. Solid-state detectors give interesting opportunities for in vivo dosimetry out of the therapeutic beams. In vivo and in phantom dosimetry have been performed, in order to set direct data and indirect estimates. Ionization chamber measurements have been collected and used as reference values for semiconductors calibration. Also thermoluminescent dosimetry has been used for a comparison. Feasibility, accuracy and reproducibility results show that the use of solid state dosimetry for radioprotection in radiotherapy is very stimulating. A procedure for the evaluation of male gonads dose in radiotherapy is proposed. Solid-state and thermoluminescent dosimetry in some clinical cases have been compared with our protocol evaluations, showing encouraging results