Thermoluminescent and Monte Carlo dosimetry of IR06‐ [Formula: see text] brachytherapy source

This work presents experimental dosimetry results for a new [Formula: see text] brachytherapy seed, in accordance with the AAPM TG‐43U1 recommendation that all new low‐energy interstitial brachytherapy seeds should undergo one Monte Carlo (MC) and at least one experimental dosimetry characterization. Measurements were performed using TLD‐GR200A circular chip dosimeters using standard methods employing thermoluminescent dosimeters in a Perspex phantom. The Monte Carlo N‐particle (MCNP) code, version 5 was used to evaluate the dose‐rate distributions around this model [Formula: see text] source in water and Perspex phantoms. The consensus value for dose‐rate constant of the IR06‐ [Formula: see text] source was found equal to [Formula: see text]. The anisotropy function, [Formula: see text] , and the radial dose function, [Formula: see text] , of the seed were measured in Perspex phantom and calculated in both Perspex and liquid water phantom. The measured values were also found in good agreement with corresponding MC calculations. PACS number: 87.53.Jw