In-air or in-phantom comparison measurements

Extending the IAEA's postal dose intercomparison service from cobalt teletherapy to conventional X-ray energies introduces a number of factors affecting the measurement accuracy. A discussion is given of the aims and objectives of postal dose intercomparisons, of basic procedures in clinical radiation dosimetry, and of the relative advantages of in-air and in-water intercomparison measurements. It is suggested that a combination of in-air and in-water measurement procedures will prove advantageous for the conventional X-ray energy range. (author)