Optical dosimetry of radiotherapy beams using Cherenkov radiation: the relationship between light emission and dose

Recent studies have proposed that light emitted by the Cherenkov effect may be used for a number of radiation therapy dosimetry applications. There is a correlation between the captured light and expected dose under certain conditions, yet discrepancies have also been observed and a complete examination of the theoretical differences has not been done. In this study, a fundamental comparison between the Cherenkov emission and absorbed dose was explored for x-ray photons, electrons, and protons using both a theoretical and Monte Carlo-based analysis. Based on the findings of where dose correlates with Cherenkov emission, it was concluded that for x-ray photons the light emission would be optimally suited for narrow beam stereotactic radiation therapy and surgery validation studies, for verification of dynamic intensity-modulated and volumetric modulated arc therapy treatment plans in water tanks, near monoenergetic sources (e.g., Co-60 and brachy therapy sources) and also for entrance and exit surface imaging dosimetry of both narrow and broad beams. For electron use, Cherenkov emission was found to be only suitable for surface dosimetry applications. Finally, for proton dosimetry, there exists a fundamental lack of Cherenkov emission at the Bragg peak, making the technique of little use, although post-irradiation detection of light emission from radioisotopes could prove to be useful.

[1]  Wook Jae Yoo,et al.  Fiber-optic Cerenkov radiation sensor for proton therapy dosimetry. , 2012, Optics express.

[2]  Louis Archambault,et al.  Transient noise characterization and filtration in CCD cameras exposed to stray radiation from a medical linear accelerator. , 2008, Medical physics.

[3]  Scott C Davis,et al.  Time-gated Cherenkov emission spectroscopy from linear accelerator irradiation of tissue phantoms. , 2012, Optics letters.

[4]  Brian W Pogue,et al.  Real-time in vivo Cherenkoscopy imaging during external beam radiation therapy , 2013, Journal of biomedical optics.

[5]  F. H. Attix,et al.  Water-equivalent plastic scintillation detectors for high-energy beam dosimetry: II. Properties and measurements. , 1992, Physics in medicine and biology.

[6]  Louis Archambault,et al.  Spectral method for the correction of the Cerenkov light effect in plastic scintillation detectors: a comparison study of calibration procedures and validation in Cerenkov light-dominated situations. , 2011, Medical physics.

[7]  Natalka Suchowerska,et al.  Plastic scintillation dosimetry for radiation therapy: minimizing capture of Cerenkov radiation noise. , 2004, Physics in medicine and biology.

[8]  J J Battista,et al.  Generation of photon energy deposition kernels using the EGS Monte Carlo code. , 1988, Physics in medicine and biology.

[9]  Brian W Pogue,et al.  Superficial dosimetry imaging based on Čerenkov emission for external beam radiotherapy with megavoltage x-ray beam. , 2013, Medical physics.

[10]  S. Lillicrap.  DETERMINATION OF THE ENERGY ABSORBED IN WATER FROM RELATIVISTIC COSMIC RAY PARTICLES USING THE CERENKOV EFFECT. , 1965, Physics in medicine and biology.

[11]  Erin Jackson,et al.  Cerenkov Radiation Energy Transfer (CRET) Imaging: A Novel Method for Optical Imaging of PET Isotopes in Biological Systems , 2010, PloS one.

[12]  Chan Hyeong Kim,et al.  Prompt gamma measurements for locating the dose falloff region in the proton therapy , 2006 .

[13]  Brian W. Pogue,et al.  A GAMOS plug-in for GEANT4 based Monte Carlo simulation of radiation-induced light transport in biological media , 2013, Biomedical optics express.

[14]  Arion F. Chatziioannou,et al.  Cerenkov radiation imaging as a method for quantitative measurements of beta particles in a microfluidic chip , 2008, 2008 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record.

[15]  B. Viren,et al.  The Super-Kamiokande detector , 2003 .

[16]  J. Rowlands,et al.  Electronic portal imaging based on cerenkov radiation: a new approach and its feasibility. , 2006, Medical physics.

[17]  I. Tamm,et al.  Coherent visible radiation of fast electrons passing through matter , 1937 .

[18]  F. H. Attix,et al.  Water-equivalent plastic scintillation detectors for high-energy beam dosimetry: I. Physical characteristics and theoretical consideration. , 1992, Physics in medicine and biology.

[19]  R. Mohan,et al.  Comparison of EGS4 and MCNP4b Monte Carlo codes for generation of photon phase space distributions for a Varian 2100C. , 1999, Physics in medicine and biology.

[20]  N Suchowerska,et al.  Plastic scintillation dosimetry: comparison of three solutions for the Cerenkov challenge. , 2011, Physics in medicine and biology.

[21]  D W O Rogers,et al.  Monte Carlo calculation of nine megavoltage photon beam spectra using the BEAM code. , 2002, Medical physics.

[22]  D. Cauz,et al.  ATLAS pixel detector electronics and sensors , 2008 .

[23]  Scott C Davis,et al.  Three-dimensional Čerenkov tomography of energy deposition from ionizing radiation beams. , 2013, Optics letters.

[24]  Brian W. Pogue,et al.  Projection imaging of photon beams by the Čerenkov effect. , 2012, Medical physics.

[25]  Johan Axelsson,et al.  Cerenkov emission induced by external beam radiation stimulates molecular fluorescence. , 2011, Medical physics.

[26]  J. Battista,et al.  A convolution method of calculating dose for 15-MV x rays. , 1985, Medical physics.

[27]  N Suchowerska,et al.  Cerenkov-free scintillation dosimetry in external beam radiotherapy with an air core light guide , 2008, Physics in medicine and biology.

[28]  A Batalla,et al.  The DOSIMAP, a high spatial resolution tissue equivalent 2D dosimeter for LINAC QA and IMRT verification. , 2009, Medical physics.

[29]  M. Clift,et al.  Dealing with Cerenkov radiation generated in organic scintillator dosimeters by bremsstrahlung beams. , 2000, Physics in medicine and biology.

[30]  P. Arce,et al.  Validation of a small-animal PET simulation using GAMOS: a GEANT4-based framework , 2011, Physics in medicine and biology.

[31]  A Isambert,et al.  Spectral discrimination of Čerenkov radiation in scintillating dosimeters. , 2005, Medical physics.

[32]  Natalka Suchowerska,et al.  Cerenkov light spectrum in an optical fiber exposed to a photon or electron radiation therapy beam. , 2009, Applied optics.

[33]  A Batalla,et al.  The DosiMap, a new 2D scintillating dosimeter for IMRT quality assurance: characterization of two Cerenkov discrimination methods. , 2008, Medical physics.

[34]  R. E. Kellogg,et al.  Radiationless Intermolecular Energy Transfer. III. Determination of Phosphorescence Efficiencies , 1964 .

[35]  Wook Jae Yoo,et al.  Measurements of relative depth doses and Cerenkov light using a scintillating fiber-optic dosimeter with Co-60 radiotherapy source. , 2012, Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine.

[36]  J. H. Hubbell,et al.  Tables of X-Ray Mass Attenuation Coefficients and Mass Energy-Absorption Coefficients 1 keV to 20 MeV for Elements Z = 1 to 92 and 48 Additional Substances of Dosimetric Interest , 1995 .

[37]  Mario Canadas,et al.  GAMOS: A Geant4-based easy and flexible framework for nuclear medicine applications , 2008, 2008 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record.

[38]  Louis Archambault,et al.  A new water-equivalent 2D plastic scintillation detectors array for the dosimetry of megavoltage energy photon beams in radiation therapy. , 2011, Medical physics.

[39]  R. Mohan,et al.  Liquid scintillator for 2D dosimetry for high-energy photon beams. , 2009, Medical physics.

[40]  Vladimir Vassiliev,et al.  VERITAS: the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System , 1997 .

[41]  J. Dempsey,et al.  New water equivalent liquid scintillation solutions for 3D dosimetry. , 2000, Medical physics.

[42]  R. Mohan,et al.  Exploration of the potential of liquid scintillators for real-time 3D dosimetry of intensity modulated proton beams. , 2009, Medical physics.

[43]  Jan Leike.  Exploration Potential , 2016, ArXiv.

[44]  J. Battista,et al.  Optical CT reconstruction of 3D dose distributions using the ferrous-benzoic-xylenol (FBX) gel dosimeter. , 1998, Medical physics.

[45]  P N Johnston,et al.  A temporal method of avoiding the Cerenkov radiation generated in organic scintillator dosimeters by pulsed mega-voltage electron and photon beams. , 2002, Physics in medicine and biology.

[46]  J C Gore,et al.  Radiation therapy dosimetry using magnetic resonance imaging of polymer gels. , 1996, Medical physics.

[47]  R. Mohan,et al.  Verification of proton range, position, and intensity in IMPT with a 3D liquid scintillator detector system. , 2012, Medical physics.

[48]  Louis Archambault,et al.  Measurement accuracy and cerenkov removal for high performance, high spatial resolution scintillation dosimetry. , 2005, Medical physics.

[49]  G. Fazio,et al.  Generation of Cherenkov Light Flashes by Cosmic Radiation within the Eyes of the Apollo Astronauts , 1970, Nature.

[50]  R. C. Bose.  Bombay, India , 1923 .

[51]  G. Aad,et al.  The ATLAS Experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collide , 2008 .

[52]  G. Margaritondo,et al.  Status and prospects of x-ray free-electron lasers (X-FELs): a simple presentation , 2012 .

[53]  Scott C Davis,et al.  Projection imaging of photon beams using Čerenkov-excited fluorescence , 2013, Physics in medicine and biology.

[54]  Giuseppe Vacanti,et al.  Observation of TeV gamma rays from the Crab Nebula using the atmospheric Cerenkov imaging technique , 1989 .

[55]  Katia Parodi,et al.  Patient study of in vivo verification of beam delivery and range, using positron emission tomography and computed tomography imaging after proton therapy. , 2007, International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics.

[56]  Louis Archambault,et al.  Technical note: removing the stem effect when performing Ir-192 HDR brachytherapy in vivo dosimetry using plastic scintillation detectors: a relevant and necessary step. , 2011, Medical physics.

[57]  Robert Speller,et al.  Imaging Cerenkov emission as a quality assurance tool in electron radiotherapy , 2014, Physics in medicine and biology.

[58]  Thomas R. Mackie,et al.  Cerenkov light generated in optical fibres and other light pipes irradiated by electron beams , 1992 .

[59]  R. Kirian.  Structure determination through correlated fluctuations in x-ray scattering , 2012 .

[60]  S Webb,et al.  Radiation dosimetry using polymer gels: methods and applications. , 2000, The British journal of radiology.

[61]  Brian W Pogue,et al.  Superficial dosimetry imaging of Čerenkov emission in electron beam radiotherapy of phantoms , 2013, Physics in medicine and biology.

[62]  T R Mackie,et al.  Calculating output factors for photon beam radiotherapy using a convolution/superposition method based on a dual source photon beam model. , 1997, Medical physics.

[63]  G. D. Winget,et al.  Advantages of the use of Cerenkov vounting for determination of P 32 in photophosphorylation research. , 1972, Analytical biochemistry.

[64]  J C Gore,et al.  Magnetic resonance imaging of radiation dose distributions using a polymer-gel dosimeter , 1994, Physics in medicine and biology.

[65]  A. Maio,et al.  Monte Carlo simulation of a typical 60Co therapy source. , 1999, Medical physics.