Prog Med Phys.  2022 Dec;33(4):158-163. 10.14316/pmp.2022.33.4.158.

Determination of Absorbed Dose for Gafchromic EBT3 Film Using Texture Analysis of Scanning Electron Microscopy Images: A Feasibility Study

• Park SY

• KMID: 2537885
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14316/pmp.2022.33.4.158

Abstract

Purpose
We subjected scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images of the active layer of EBT3 film to texture analysis to determine the dose-response curve.
Methods
Uncoated Gafchromic EBT3 films were prepared for direct surface SEM scanning. Absorbed doses of 0–20 Gy were delivered to the film’s surface using a 6 MV TrueBeam STx photon beam. The film’s surface was scanned using a SEM under 100× and 3,000× magnification. Four textural features (Homogeneity, Correlation, Contrast, and Energy) were calculated based on the gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) using the SEM images corresponding to each dose. We used R-square to evaluate the linear relationship between delivered doses and textural features of the film’s surface.
Results
Correlation resulted in higher linearity and dose-response curve sensitivity than Homogeneity, Contrast, or Energy. The R-square value was 0.964 for correlation using 3,000× magnified SEM images with 9-pixel offsets. Dose verification was used to determine the difference between the prescribed and measured doses for 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 Gy as 0.09, 1.96, −2.29, 0.17, and 0.08 Gy, respectively.
Conclusions
Texture analysis can be used to accurately convert microscopic structural changes to the EBT3 film’s surface into absorbed doses. Our proposed method is feasible and may improve the accuracy of film dosimetry used to protect patients from excess radiation exposure.

Keyword

Film dosimetry; Gafchromic film; Texture analysis; Scanning electron microscopy

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Depiction of Gafchromic EBT3 film’s surface structure. (a) Laminated EBT3 film. (b) Unlaminated EBT3 film.

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  Fig. 2 An EBT3 film surface image obtained using scanning electron microscopic (SEM). Each measurement point is visualized under 100× and 3,000× magnification and absolute radiation doses of 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 Gy.

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  Fig. 3 The maximum coefficient of determination value based on the between-pixel distance and the textural features obtained following irradiation and under (a) 100× and (b) 3,000× surface magnification.

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  Fig. 4 Correlation curve of the parameter of Correlation (d=9) for the EBT3 film’s surface under 3,000× magnification and various radiation doses.

Reference

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