Intercomparison and constancy check of brachytherapy well-type chambers as a means to improve the quality of measurements in Serbia

Milos Zivanovic; Borislava Petrovic; Nevena Radovanlija; Nikola Krzanovic; Milos Jonic; Milana Marjanovic; Ivana Komatina

doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2023.111160

Intercomparison and constancy check of brachytherapy well-type chambers as a means to improve the quality of measurements in Serbia

Appl Radiat Isot. 2024 Mar:205:111160. doi: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2023.111160. Epub 2023 Dec 23.

Authors

Milos Zivanovic¹, Borislava Petrovic², Nevena Radovanlija³, Nikola Krzanovic⁴, Milos Jonic⁵, Milana Marjanovic², Ivana Komatina⁶

Affiliations

¹ Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences - National Institute of thе Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Mike Petrovica Alasa 12-14, 11351 Vinča, Belgrade, Serbia. Electronic address: milosz@vinca.rs.
² Faculty of Sciences, Department of Physics, University Novi Sad, trg Dositeja Obradovica 4, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia; Oncology Institute of Vojvodina, Radiotherapy Clinic, Put Doktora Goldmana 4, 21204 Sremska Kamenica, Serbia.
³ Faculty of Sciences, Department of Physics, University Novi Sad, trg Dositeja Obradovica 4, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.
⁴ Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences - National Institute of thе Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Mike Petrovica Alasa 12-14, 11351 Vinča, Belgrade, Serbia.
⁵ Radiotherapy Department, Clinic for Oncology, University Clinical Center Nis, Bulevar Dr Zorana Djindjica 48, 18000 Nis, Serbia.
⁶ Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences - National Institute of thе Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Mike Petrovica Alasa 12-14, 11351 Vinča, Belgrade, Serbia; Faculty of Physical Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11158 Belgrade, Serbia.

PMID: 38171076
DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2023.111160

Abstract

Source strength measurements are of critical importance for brachytherapy and are often performed in hospitals using well-type chambers. Quality assurance and quality control procedures should be implemented, but that may prove difficult in some hospitals due to the lack of equipment or metrological support. A study was conducted to investigate the status of the measurement equipment in Serbian hospitals and to organize an intercomparison campaign using a hospital ¹⁹²Ir source. All the hospitals were able to measure the source strength with the required accuracy, but the quality assurance can be improved. Two hospitals performed stability checks, which were evaluated. Uncertainty budget was created during the exercise and is presented in this paper. The described methodology can be used to quickly assess the performance of brachytherapy centers, and can be easily adapted to calibration procedure.

Keywords: (192)Ir; Brachytherapy; Calibration; Intercomparison; Well-type chamber.

MeSH terms

Brachytherapy* / methods
Calibration
Iridium Radioisotopes
Quality Control
Radiometry / methods
Radiotherapy Dosage
Serbia

Substances

Iridium Radioisotopes