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Lerendegui-Marco, J., Cisterna, G., Hallam, J., Babiano-Suarez, V., Balibrea-Correa, J., Calvo, D., et al. (2025). Imaging neutrons with a position-sensitive monolithic CLYC detector. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A, 1079, 170594–12pp.
Abstract: In this work, we have developed and characterized a position-sensitive CLYC detector that acts as the neutron imaging layer and y-ray Compton scatterer of the novel dual Gamma-ray and Neutron Vision (GN-Vision) system, which aims at simultaneously obtaining information about the spatial origin of y-ray and neutron sources. We first investigated the performance of two large 50 x 50 mm2 monolithic CLYC crystals, 8 and 13 mm thick respectively, coupled to a pixelated SiPM in terms of energy resolution and neutron-gamma discrimination. The response of two different 95% 6Li-enriched CLYC detectors coupled to an array of 8 x 8 SiPMs was studied in comparison to the results of a conventional photo-multiplier tube. An energy resolution of about 6% with PMT and 8% with SiPMs for the 137Cs peak and a figure of merit of 3-4 for the neutron-gamma discrimination have been obtained. The spatial response of the CLYC-SiPM detector to y-rays and neutrons has also been characterized using charge modulation-based multiplexing techniques based on a diode-coupled charge division circuit. Average resolutions close to 5 mm FWHM with good linearity are obtained in the transverse crystal plane. Last, this work presents the first proof-of-concept experiments of the neutron imaging capability using a neutron pinhole collimator attached to the developed position sensitive CLYC detector.
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Oliver, S., Vijande, J., Tejedor-Aguilar, N., Miro, R., Rovira-Escutia, J. J., Ballester, F., et al. (2023). Monte Carlo flattening filter design to high energy intraoperative electron beam homogenization. Radiat. Phys. Chem., 212, 111102–6pp.
Abstract: Intraoperative radiotherapy using mobile linear accelerators is used for a wide variety of malignancies. However, when large fields are used in combination with high energies, a deterioration of the flatness dose profile is measured with respect to smaller fields and lower energies. Indeed, for the LIAC HWL of Sordina, this deterioration is observed for the 12 MeV beam combined with 10 cm (or larger) diameter applicator. Aimed to solve this problem, a flattening filter has been designed and validated evaluating the feasibility of its usage at the upper part of the applicator. The design of the filter was based on Monte Carlo simulations because of its accuracy in modeling components of clinical devices, among other purposes. The LIAC 10 cm diameter applicator was modeled and simulated independently by two different research groups using two different MC codes, reproducing the heterogeneity of the 12 MeV energy beam. Then, an iterative process of filter design was carried out. Finally, the MC designed conical filter with the optimal size and height to obtain the desired flattened beam was built in-house using a 3D printer. During the experimental validation of the applicator-filter, percentage depth dose, beam profiles, absolute and peripheral dose measurements were performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the filter addition in the applicator. These measurements conclude that the beam has been flattened, from 5.9% with the standard configuration to 1.6% for the configuration with the filter, without significant increase of the peripheral dose. Consequently, the new filter-applicator LIAC configuration can be used also in a conventional surgery room. A reduction of 16% of the output dose and a reduction of 1.1 mm in the D50 of the percentage depth dose was measured with respect to the original configuration. This work is a proof-of-concept that demonstrates that it is possible to add a filter able to flatten the beam delivered by the Sordina LIAC HWL. Future studies will focus on more refined technical solutions fully compatible with the integrity of the applicator, including its sterilization, to be safely introduced in the clinical practice.
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Boughaba, N. E., Bouzid, B., & Yahlali, N. (2025). Assessment of Cerenkov optical noise in a brachytherapy scintillating fibre dosimeter with an air-core Ag-PTFE light guide. Radiat. Meas., 181, 107348–11pp.
Abstract: Plastic scintillating fibre dosimeters have been the subject of multiple studies in the field of medical dosimetry, due to their notable dosimetric properties, including water equivalence, small size and absence of energy and dose rate dependence. The main drawback of this dosimeter type in high dose-rate brachytherapy is the presence of Cerenkov photons produced by electrons with velocities exceeding the speed of light in the fibre plastic medium. In this work, aimed at minimizing Cerenkov noise at its source in a prototype scintillation fibre dosimeter, the plastic light guide exposed to the radiation field was replaced by an air-core Ag-PTFE light guide of miniature size. Cerenkov-to-signal ratio was first assessed in fibre bundles using a dedicated experimental setup and simulations. This ratio was found of about similar to 1 % for scintillating fibres when exposed to radiation in the energy range 1-2 MeV. The performance of the air-core Ag-PTFE light guide dosimeter was then studied, resulting in a decrease of the Cerenkov light in the total signal from similar to 50 % to less than 0.3%, compared to the standard dosimeter with a plastic optical light guide. The counterpart of this substantial reduction of optical noise is a reduction of 40% in the dosimeter light collection efficiency. However, this is not a limiting feature of this Cerenkov-free dosimeter, since further optical optimizations are possible, in addition to the use of a high-gain and high-sensitivity photodetector for its readout.
Keywords: Brachytherapy; Cerenkov; Scintillating fibre; Air-core fibre; Dosimetry; GATE
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Perez-Calatayud, J., Ballester, F., Tedgren, C., DeWerd, L. A., Papagiannis, P., Rivard, M. J., et al. (2022). GEC-ESTRO ACROP recommendations on calibration and traceability of HE HDR-PDR photon-emitting brachytherapy sources at the hospital level. Radiother. Oncol., 176, 108–117.
Abstract: The vast majority of radiotherapy departments in Europe using brachytherapy (BT) perform temporary implants of high-or pulsed-dose rate (HDR-PDR) sources with photon energies higher than 50 keV. Such techniques are successfully applied to diverse pathologies and clinical scenarios. These recommen-dations are the result of Working Package 21 (WP-21) initiated within the BRAchytherapy PHYsics Quality Assurance System (BRAPHYQS) GEC-ESTRO working group with a focus on HDR-PDR source cal-ibration. They provide guidance on the calibration of such sources, including practical aspects and issues not specifically accounted for in well-accepted societal recommendations, complementing the BRAPHYQS WP-18 Report dedicated to low energy BT photon emitting sources (seeds). The aim of this report is to provide a European-wide standard in HDR-PDR BT source calibration at the hospital level to maintain high quality patient treatments.
Keywords: Brachytherapy; High energy; Calibration; Dosimetry; HDR-PDR
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Vijande, J., Granero, D., Perez-Calatayud, J., & Ballester, F. (2013). Monte Carlo dosimetric study of the medium dose rate CSM40 source. Appl. Radiat. Isot., 82, 283–288.
Abstract: The Cs-137 medium dose rate (MDR) CSM40 source model (Eckert & Ziegler BEBIG, Germany) is in clinical use but no dosimetric dataset has been published. This study aims to obtain dosimetric data for the CSM40 source for its use in clinical practice as required by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) and the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO). Penelope2008 and Geant4 Monte Carlo codes were used to characterize this source dosimetrically. It was located in an unbounded water phantom with composition and mass density as recommended by AAPM and ESTRO. Due to the low photon energies of Cs-137, absorbed dose was approximated by collisional kerma. Additional simulations were performed to obtain the air-kerma strength, sic. Mass-energy absorption coefficients in water and air were consistently derived and used to calculate collisional kerma. Results performed with both radiation transport codes showed agreement typically within 0.05%. Dose rate constant, radial dose function and anisotropy function are provided for the CSM40 and compared with published data for other commercially available Cs-137 sources. An uncertainty analysis has been performed. The data provided by this study can be used as input data and verification in the treatment planning systems. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Brachytherapy; Cs-137 seed; TG-43 based dosimetry; Monte Carlo
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