Advanced Physics for Brachytherapy 2018

Uncertainty requirements for single source dosimetry

In their methodological recommendations for measuring dosimetry parameters:

➢ TG-43U1 * advises on using a dosimeter system with sufficient precision and accuracy to permit dose-rate estimations with combined 1σ Type A uncertainty <5% and 1σ Type B uncertainty <7% for a total 1 σ uncertainty <9% for LE sources

➢ Joint AAPM-ESTRO report ** advises on using a dosimeter system with sufficient precision and accuracy to permit dose-rate estimations with k=1 Type A (statistical) uncertainties 3% and k=1 Type B uncertainties 6%

* Rivard et al., 2004. Update of AAPM Task Group No. 43 Report: A revised AAPM protocol for brachytherapy dose calculations. Med. Phys. 31(3), p.633. ** Perez-Calatayud et al., 2012. Dose calculation for photon-emitting brachytherapy sources with average energy higher than 50 keV: report of the AAPM and ESTRO. Med. Phys. 39(5), p.2904