These proceedings present a refereed selection of papers that were given at a symposium held in Vienna in November 2002. Emphasis was placed on dosimetry for therapeutic applications of radiation in medicine. However, some papers deal with dosimetry in diagnostic radiology and nuclear medicine. Although many dosimetry techniques are discussed, calorimetry is featured in one session exclusively. Many papers deal with dosimetry standards, protocols and comparisons. The need for accurate dosimetry for the treatment of cancer was a common thread throughout the symposium.

This publication is intended to support those working in the field of diagnostic radiology dosimetry, both in standards laboratories involved in the calibration of dosimeters and those in clinical centres and hospitals where patient dosimetry and quality assurance measurements are of vital concern. This code of practice covers diverse dosimetric situations corresponding to the range of examinations found clinically, and includes guidance on dosimetry for general radiography, fluoroscopy, mammography, computed tomography and dental radiography. The material is presented in a practical way with guidance worksheets and examples of calculations. A set of appendices is also included with background and detailed discussion of important aspects of diagnostic radiology dosimetry.

Scintillation Dosimetry delivers a comprehensive introduction to plastic scintillation dosimetry, covering everything from basic radiation dosimetry concepts to plastic scintillating fiber optics. Comprised of chapters authored by leading experts in the medical physics community, the book: Discusses a broad range of technical implementations, from point source dosimetry scaling to 3D-volumetric and 4D-scintillation dosimetry Addresses a wide scope of clinical applications, from machine quality assurance to small-field and in vivo dosimetry Examines related optical techniques, such as optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) or Čerenkov luminescence Thus, Scintillation Dosimetry provides an authoritative reference for detailed, state-of-the-art information on plastic scintillation dosimetry and its use in the field of radiation dosimetry.

Provides guidelines to Secondary Standards Dosimetry Laboratories on how to establish a standard of absorbed dose to water in a 60Co gamma ray beam, and provides guidelines on the changes that can be expected when IAEA Technical Reports Series No. 398 (TRS-398) is adopted in a hospital environment.

This book provides a first comprehensive summary of the basic principles, instrumentation, methods, and clinical applications of three-dimensional dosimetry in modern radiation therapy treatment. The presentation reflects the major growth in the field as a result of the widespread use of more sophisticated radiotherapy approaches such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy and proton therapy, which require new 3D dosimetric techniques to determine very accurately the dose distribution. It is intended as an essential guide for those involved in the design and implementation of new treatment technology and its application in advanced radiation therapy, and will enable these readers to select the most suitable equipment and methods for their application. Chapters include numerical data, examples, and case studies.

The brachytherapy process requires consistent reference dosimetry that is traceable to metrological primary standards and common procedures to be followed for reference dosimetry globally. The Code of Practice is addressed to both Secondary Standards Dosimetry Laboratories and hospitals. It fulfills the need for a systematic and internationally unified approach to the calibration and use of vented well-type re-entrant ionisation chambers in determining the strength of brachytherapy sources with intensities measurable by such detectors. The dosimetry formalism as well as common procedures for calibration, reference dosimetry, reference-class instrument assessment and commissioning of the well-type ionisation chamber system are provided.

Radiation Oncology provides a comprehensive overview of radiotherapy for cancer treatment. It discusses brachytherapy, external radiation, and photodynamic therapy for different types of cancers, as well as dosimetry audits, which ensure that the accurate therapeutic dose is delivered to patients undergoing radiotherapy. The need of the hour for radiotherapy procedures that provide maximum clinical care with safety and efficacy and also enhance the advantage of treatment and diminish the risks of late complications.