Determination of isodose curves and planning confirmation in Intensity modulated radiation therapy – IMRT conventional using thermoluminescent techniques, optically stimulated luminescence and semiconductor detectors

Radiotherapy is one of three principal treatment modalities used in the treatment of malignant diseases such as cancer; the other two are chemotherapy and radiosurgery. In contrast to other medical specialties that rely mainly on the clinical knowledge and experience of medical specialists, radiotherapy, with its use of ionizing radiation in treatment of cancer, relies heavily on modern technology and the collaborative efforts of several professionals whose coordinated team approach greatly influences the outcome of the treatment. Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) with the use of multileaf collimators (MLCs) has the potential to achieve a much higher degree of target conformity and normal tissue sparing than most other treatment techniques, especially for target volumes or organs at risk with complex shapes. However, recent studies show that low doses of radiation can cause secondary cancers. This work aims to determine the radiation dose distribution in several radiation therapy treatment simulations with use of LiF:Mg,Ti; CaSO₄:Dy and Al₂O₃:C dosimeters using a PMMA phantom for the following dosimetry techniques: thermoluminescence, optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and semiconductor detectors. (author)