Physics of Modern Brachytherapy for Oncology discusses the subject in detail, covering its definition, the basic physics of radiation interaction with matter, radionuclides, sources and source production, calibration and dosimetry protocols as well as experimental dosimetry methods appropriate for practical use.

Features:

• Examines the sources used in therapies and their production methods
• Describes the state-of-the-art methods of source calibration and source dosimetry
• Explores the different radionuclides that have dominated brachytheraphy practice
• Discusses in detail the Monte Carlo method of source dosimetry
• Focuses on three experimental dosimetry methods: standardized ionization, thermoluminescence, and polymer gel
• Provides tables with data and parameter values for practical use

Contents

The Early History of Brachytherapy Physics

• Ionization and X-Rays
• a, ß, ?, and Half-Life
• Nuclear Transformation
• Rutherford-Bohr Atom
• The Start of Brachytherapy
• Dose Rates
• Dosimetry Systems
• Marie Curie

Radiation Quantities and Units

• Ionization and Excitation
• Radiometry
• Interaction Coefficients
• Dosimetry
• Radioactivity

Atoms, Nuclei, Elementary Particles and Radiations

• Atoms
• Atomic Nucleus
• Nuclear Transformation Processes
• Modes of Decay
• Elementary Particles and the Standard Model

Interaction Properties of Photons and Electrons

• Photon Interaction Processes
• Mass Attenuation Coefficient
• Mass Energy Absorption Coefficients
• Electron Interaction Processes

Bracytherapy Radionuclides and their Properties

• Notation
• 60Cobalt
• 137Caesium
• 198Gold
• 192Iridium
• 125Iodine
• 103Palladium
• 169Ytterbium
• 170Thullium

Production and Construction of Sealed Sources

• 192Iridium Sources
• 125Iodine LDR Seeds
• 103Palladium LDR Seeds
• 169Ytterbium LDR Seeds
• 60Cobalt HDR Sources
• 137Cesium LDR Sources
• 198Gold HDR Seeds
• 170Thulium High Activity Seeds
• 131Caesium LDR Seeds
• Enrichment Methods
• ß-ray Emitting Microparticles and Nanoparticles

Source Specification and Source Calibration

• Source Specification
• Source Calibration

Source Dosimetry

• Coordinate Systems and Geometry Definition
• Models of Dose Rate and Dose Calculation

Monte Carlo Based Source Dosimetry

• Monte Carlo Photon Transport Simulations
• Monte Carlo-Based Dosimetry of Monoenergetic Photon Point Sources
• Monte Carlo-Based Dosimetry of 103Pd, 125I, 169Yb, and 192Ir Point Sources
• Monte Carlo-Based Dosimetry of Commercially Available 192Ir Source Designs
• Monte Carlo-Based Dosimetry of 125I and 103Pd LDR Seeds

Experimental Dosimetry

• Phantom Material
• Ionization Dosimetry
• TLD Dosimetry
• Polymer Gel Dosimetry in Brachytherapy

Index

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