Transition of Standard Dosimetry of Absorbed Dose to Water in External Beam Radiotherapy [Part 1]

Abstract

The radiotherapy is performed with the aim of delivering the optimal dose to the target volume with minimal side effect of surrounding normal tissue. For this purpose, quality assurance is essential to ensure that the target volume is correctly irradiated in the optimal geometrical arrangement, and the absorbed dose evaluation is essential to ensure that the prescribed dose is correctly delivered. The absorbed doses are generally evaluated using a small cavity ionization chamber that utilizes gas ionization. For the evaluation of absorbed dose to water using ionization chambers, the national dose and charge standards, ionization chambers and electrometer calibration systems are required. And it is also required standard dosimetry protocol that recommend conditions such as fields, depths, and optimal ionization chambers for the measurement, as well as reliable physical data. This manuscript reviews the transition of standard dosimetry of absorbed dose to water in external beam radiotherapy, including the background of dose standards, ionization chamber calibration systems, units, and physical constants.