The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) is working with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and dosimetry auditors globally to develop a world first film dosimetry intercomparison tool.
The resulting film dosimetry tool will be used in auditing to compare the delivered and planned radiation dose to cancer patients.
Development is being led by ARPANSA’s Australian Clinical Dosimetry Service (ACDS).
ACDS is Australia’s only independent dosimetry auditing service, providing extra surety for around 70,000 Australians who will be treated with radiotherapy for cancer this year.
Once complete, the intercomparison will enhance the quality and certainty of results in film dosimetry comparison for radiation auditors around the world.
‘It is widely agreed that a global film dosimetry intercomparison is needed to advance radiation oncology auditing’ said Senior Medical Physicist and project lead, Dr Andrew Alves.
‘Film dosimetry is a very precise method of measuring radiation exposure, but variables including different software, scanners and film type, can make comparison difficult.’
The intercomparison tool will provide the IAEA with a resource to support greater use of film dosimetry across global radiotherapy providers.
‘We are confident that the outcome of this new, standardised tool will enhance the way we currently verify radiation doses and enable other countries to introduce film dosimetry in their audits,’ said Dr Ivan Williams, Chief Medical Radiation Scientist of ARPANSA.
Results of the film dosimetry intercomparison will be made available through IAEA networks.
ARPANSA regulates Commonwealth entities that use or produce radiation and provides services and undertakes research relating to medical use of radiation.
