ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book reviews dosimetric characteristics and properties of commercially available point detectors, divided into active and passive detectors. Three-dimensional (3D) dosimetry can be performed using a large variety of dosimeters, which can be divided into full-3D, pseudo-3D, or semi-3D systems. The book discusses the rationale and methods of using these types of 3D dosimeters with particular attention to the preparation and dose readout of the various systems. It also discusses in detail the acceptance testing, commissioning, and quality assurance (QA) of linear accelerators, and commissioning and QA of treatment planning systems, respectively. The book explains the measurements, testing, and validation of the dosimetric aspects of a modern treatment-planning system. It addresses the complex requirements to the clinical 3D dosimetry of proton and carbon ion beam therapy related to the wide range of pencil-beam parameters and the dynamic way of dose delivery.
