Dosimetry Course

Lesson 1 • Radioactive Decay Kinetics

Introduces activity, half-life, and decay constants with quantitative calculations. Provides the mathematical tools needed for source characterisation.

Lesson 2 • Radiation Interaction with Matter

Describes how charged particles, photons, and neutrons deposit energy in tissue and detectors. Directly supports understanding of absorbed dose.

Lesson 3 • Radioactive Decay Modes

Examines alpha, beta, and gamma decay mechanisms and their emitted particles. Connects decay type to radiation quality used in dosimetry calculations.

Lesson 4 • Units and Quantities in Radiation Physics

Defines SI and legacy units for activity, exposure, absorbed dose, and equivalent dose. Ensures consistent unit usage throughout the course.

Lesson 1 • Cavity Theory and Bragg-Gray Principle

Explains how small detector cavities sample surrounding medium dose. Provides the theoretical basis for ionisation chamber dosimetry.

Lesson 2 • Reference Dosimetry Protocols

Surveys internationally recognised codes of practice for reference dose measurement. Prepares students to apply standardised measurement procedures.

Lesson 3 • Dosimetric Uncertainty Analysis

Applies GUM-based uncertainty propagation to dosimetry measurements. Students can quantify and report combined measurement uncertainty.

Lesson 4 • Absorbed Dose and Kerma

Defines absorbed dose and kerma, their relationship, and conditions for charged-particle equilibrium. Anchors all subsequent measurement and calculation methods.

Lesson 1 • Detector Calibration and Quality Assurance

Establishes calibration workflows, constancy checks, and traceability requirements for dosimetry detectors. Ensures measurement reliability over time.

Lesson 2 • Ionisation Chamber Detectors

Covers cylindrical, parallel-plate, and extrapolation chamber designs and their operating principles. Central to clinical and environmental dosimetry practice.

Lesson 3 • Thermoluminescent and Optically Stimulated Dosimeters

Describes TLD and OSLD materials, readout processes, and dose-response characteristics. Used for personnel monitoring and audit dosimetry.

Lesson 4 • Film and Gel Dosimetry

Introduces radiochromic film and polymer gel dosimeters for 2D and 3D dose mapping. Connects to treatment plan verification applications.

Lesson 1 • Reference Dosimetry for Photon Beams

Applies ionisation chamber protocols to determine absorbed dose to water at reference depth. Directly links theory to clinical machine output measurement.

Lesson 2 • Relative Dosimetry and Beam Data Commissioning

Guides acquisition and validation of beam data sets for treatment planning system commissioning. Ensures accurate dose calculation across all clinical field sizes.

Lesson 3 • Photon Beam Characteristics

Describes percent depth dose, tissue-maximum ratio, and beam profiles for clinical photon beams. Establishes the data needed for dose calculation.

Lesson 4 • Small Field and Non-Reference Dosimetry

Addresses detector selection, output factor measurement, and correction factors for small photon fields. Critical for stereotactic and IMRT dosimetry.

Lesson 1 • Proton Beam Dosimetry Principles

Introduces the Bragg peak, spread-out Bragg peak, and proton-specific dosimetry protocols. Connects proton physics to clinical dose delivery accuracy.

Lesson 2 • Electron Beam Depth-Dose Characteristics

Describes the practical range, R50, and depth-dose shape of clinical electron beams. Provides the beam data foundation for electron treatment planning.

Lesson 3 • Heavy-Ion and Carbon-Ion Dosimetry

Covers LET-dependent dosimetry challenges and biological dose concepts for carbon-ion beams. Addresses the additional complexity of high-LET particle therapy.

Lesson 4 • In-Vivo Range and Dose Verification

Surveys prompt gamma, PET, and ionoacoustic methods for real-time particle range verification. Prepares students to assess delivery accuracy in particle therapy.

Lesson 1 • TG-43 Dose Calculation Formalism

Applies the AAPM TG-43 formalism with dose rate constant, geometry, and anisotropy functions. Provides the standard framework for brachytherapy dose calculation.

Lesson 2 • Brachytherapy Source Types and Characteristics

Surveys LDR, HDR, and PDR sources, their radionuclides, and physical construction. Establishes the source knowledge base for dosimetric calculations.

Lesson 3 • Brachytherapy Treatment Planning

Covers applicator reconstruction, dwell time optimisation, and dose-volume histogram evaluation. Links dosimetric formalism to clinical plan quality assessment.

Lesson 4 • Brachytherapy Quality Assurance

Establishes pre-treatment checks, source position verification, and afterloader QA procedures. Ensures patient safety and dose delivery accuracy.

Lesson 1 • Treatment Planning System Commissioning

Validates dose calculation algorithms against measured beam data before clinical use. Ensures the planning system accurately predicts delivered dose.

Lesson 2 • Point Dose Verification Techniques

Uses ionisation chambers and diodes to verify planned dose at specific points in phantoms. Provides a fast independent check of monitor unit calculations.

Lesson 3 • Adaptive and Real-Time QA Strategies

Introduces online adaptive replanning verification and real-time delivery monitoring methods. Prepares students for emerging QA demands in adaptive radiotherapy.

Lesson 4 • Two-Dimensional Dose Distribution Verification

Applies radiochromic film and detector arrays to verify 2D dose planes for IMRT fields. Identifies systematic delivery errors across the treatment field.

Lesson 1 • Personnel Dosimetry and Monitoring

Covers whole-body badge, extremity, and eye lens dosimeters for occupational monitoring. Ensures accurate dose records for worker protection and compliance.

Lesson 2 • Area Monitoring and Workplace Surveys

Applies survey meters and area monitors to characterise radiation fields in workplaces. Supports shielding design and controlled area boundary determination.

Lesson 3 • Shielding Design and Dose Assessment

Applies transmission factors and workload analysis to design radiation shielding barriers. Connects dosimetric measurements to structural protection requirements.

Lesson 4 • Internal Dosimetry and Bioassay

Estimates committed effective dose from radionuclide intake using bioassay and biokinetic models. Addresses dosimetry for workers handling unsealed radioactive materials.