Correction-less dosimetry of nonstandard photon fields: a new criterion to determine the usability of radiation detectors

In the IAEA-AAPM dosimetry formalism, detector measurements in general nonstandard conditions are corrected using the factor k_Qclin,Qmsr^f_clin,f_msr. This factor needs to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis which is difficult to accomplish in practice. The present paper aims to provide a method that allows neglecting correction factors for small and composite IMRT fields by first determining a radiation detector's usability in these fields. Detailed models of nine radiation detectors are built: four ionization chambers (NE2571, A12, A1SL, A14), three small field detectors (PTW31018 microLion, PTW60003 natural diamond, PTW60012 unshielded diode) and two near water-equivalent detectors (alanine, W1 scintillating fiber). Using the egs_chamber Monte Carlo code, dose response functions at 6 MV and 25 MV are sampled for each detector and their corresponding volume of water. These functions are then used with a newly derived criterion to evaluate an upper bound ξ_Qns,Qmsr^f_ns,f_msr on the variable ϵ_Qns,Qmsr^f_ns,f_msr if no field collimation/modulation occurs over a given perturbation zone. The variable ϵ_Qns,Qmsr^f_ns,f_msr is defined as the absolute value of the relative deviation from unity of a nonstandard field quality correction factor k_Qns,Qmsr^f_ns,f_msr. Using the same criterion, perturbation zones are evaluated by finding the smallest field size allowed for correction-less dosimetry with a given tolerance ξ_Qns,Qmsr^f_ns,f_msr. For composite fields, the sensitivity of detectors to the non-uniformity of virtual symmetric collapsed beams over regions of interest specified by the criterion is studied to estimate an upper bound ξ-tilde _Qns,Q^f_ns,f_ref on ϵ_Qns,Q^f_ns,f_ref for a given beam flatness. Finally, a newly defined perturbation function is used to minimize the perturbations of the microLion chamber through density compensation. The theoretical criterion shows good agreement with full Monte Carlo simulations of ϵ_Qns,Qmsr^f_ns,f_msr. Perturbation zones are shown to be sensitive to both the energy of the beam and the orientation of the detector. The density-compensated microLion shows significantly improved response in both axial and radial orientations in small and composite IMRT fields. Finally, the new Exradin W1 scintillator is shown to have ξ_Qns,Qmsr^f_ns,f_msr values under 1% in small fields. The methods presented in this work theoretically show that correction-less dosimetry of nonstandard field can be accomplished by knowing the limit of usability of radiation detectors in these conditions. Potential applications include small field output factor measurements and absolute absorbed dose to water verification in the QA of clinical IMRT fields. (paper)