First results on real-time quality control and dosimetry of β emitting sources used in medical applications using Silicon strip detectors

Real-time dosimetry is a critical issue in most radiotherapy applications. SUCIMA (Proceedings of the Eighth Topical Seminar on Innovative Particle and Radiation Detectors, Siena, Italy) (Silicon Ultra fast Cameras for electron and gamma sources in Medical Applications) is an EC project addressing the development of an imaging device for extended radioactive sources based on monolithic and hybrid position sensitive silicon sensors. Preliminary results imaging 90Sr and 144Ce brachytherapy sources are presented. Large area Silicon strip detectors, read out by low noise charge integrating chips, have been used to measure the dose depth curve in a tissue equivalent material according to the prescription by American Association of Physicist in Medicine Task Group No. 60. Real-time measurements have been compared to the results obtained in the same geometry using GafChromic films.