The Dosimetry of Ionizing Radiation, Volume I focuses on the development in radiation dosimetry, which has its origin in the medical application of ionizing radiation with the discovery of X-rays. This book discusses the irradiation of human beings and the biosphere by ionizing radiation from different sources, which is subjected to increased concern and interest due to its possible health effects. Comprised of six chapters, this volume starts with an overview of the factors determining the conversion of the imparted energy into a detectable signal. This text then explores the theoretical basis of microdosimetry and illustrates the numerical data, experimental techniques, and applications of essential concepts and results. Other chapters consider the application of instruments in dose measurements. This book discusses as well the application of radiotherapy for the treatment of malignant diseases. The final chapter deals with the recommended model parameters for internal dosimetry calculations in occupational radiation protection. Physicists, radiation physicists, scientists, and research institutes will find this book useful.

Mankind has evolved in a sea of radiation. We have been bombarded constantly by X rays, y rays, UV rays, and particulate radiations from outer space, and by terrestrial radiations from the ground we walk on, from our building materials, and from our own bodies. Recently, we have become increasingly subjected to man-made radiations, especially from the medical and defense industries. All of these radiations are capable of affecting us biologically, both to our benefit and to our detriment. This book provides a thorough review of the physical and biological dosimetry of these radiations. It is targeted to those health professionals who are concerned with understanding the mechanisms fundamental to the biological action of ionizing radiation or who are involved in the application, measurement, or treatment of the effects of such radiations. The first chapter, on "Bioeffect Dosimetry in Radiation Therapy," should be of special interest to anyone involved in the treatment of cancer by radiation. It includes a brief review of the history of the manipulation of time-dose parameters in order to improve therapeutic benefit, and an up-to-date analysis of time-dose relationships designed for use in fractionated radiotherapy and brachytherapy. This is followed by two chapters reviewing and comparing national and international protocols for the precise measurement of photon and electron radiations in therapy. These chapters should be invaluable to radiation physicists responsible for treatment machine calibrations.

Complexities of the requirements for accurate radiation dosimetry evaluation in both diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine (including PET) have grown over the past decade. This is due primarily to four factors: Growing consideration of accurate patient-specific treatment planning for radionuclide therapy as a means of improving the therapeutic benefit, development of more realistic anthropomorphic phantoms and their use in estimating radiation transport and dosimetry in patients, Design and use of advanced Monte Carlo algorithms in calculating the above-mentioned radiation transport and dosimetry which require the user to have a thorough understanding of the theoretical principles used in such algorithms, their appropriateness and their limitations, increasing regulatory scrutiny of the radiation dose burden borne by nuclear medicine patients in the clinic and in the development of new radiopharmaceuticals, thus requiring more accurate and robust dosimetry evaluations. An element common to all four factors is the need for precise radiation dosimetry in nuclear medicine, which is fundamental to the therapeutic success of a patient undergoing radionuclide therapy and to the safety of the patients undergoing diagnostic nuclear medicine and PET procedures. As the complexity of internal radiation dosimetry applied to diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine increases, this book will provide the theoretical foundations for: enabling the practising nuclear medicine physicist to understand the dosimetry calculations being used and their limitations, allowing the research nuclear medicine physicist to critically examine the internal radiation dosimetry algorithms available and under development; and providing the developers of Monte Carlo codes for the transport of radiation resulting from internal radioactive sources with the only comprehensive and definitive.

A straightforward presentation of the broad concepts underlying radiological physics and radiation dosimetry for the graduate-level student. Covers photon and neutron attenuation, radiation and charged particle equilibrium, interactions of photons and charged particles with matter, radiotherapy dosimetry, as well as photographic, calorimetric, chemical, and thermoluminescence dosimetry. Includes many new derivations, such as Kramers X-ray spectrum, as well as topics that have not been thoroughly analyzed in other texts, such as broad-beam attenuation and geometrics, and the reciprocity theorem. Subjects are layed out in a logical sequence, making the topics easier for students to follow. Supplemented with numerous diagrams and tables.