Utilisation of a 2D solid state detector array for dose assessment and reconstruction of cancer treatment fields using megavoltage photon beams

The level of sophistication associated with modern radiotherapy techniques such as Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) and Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) continues to increase, placing increasing demands on the current Quality Assurance (QA) procedures that ensure patient safety. There is therefore a significant need for real-time detectors that provide verification of IMRT and VMAT during the delivery of a patient’s cancer treatment. Current QA procedures typically involve a pre-treatment dosimetric verification to ensure that the linac is delivering the dose map as specified by the computerised radiotherapy treatment plan calculation. A transmission type detector consisting of a two dimensional (2D) array of silicon diodes, “Magic Plate” (MP), is one potential candidate that would allow for online dosimetry in real time, during the patient treatment. This is the focus of the studies presented in this thesis.