Feasibility of using glass-bead thermoluminescent dosimeters for radiotherapy treatment plan verification

Results: The mean percentage difference between measured dose with the glass beads and TPS was found to be 0.3%, 20.1%, 0.4%, 1.8% and 1.7% for the conventional larynx, conformal prostate, IMRT prostate and each of the SBRT delivery techniques, respectively. The percentage difference between measured dose with the ionization chamber and glass bead was found to be 21.2%, 21.4%, 20.1%, 20.9% and 2.4% for the above-mentioned plans, respectively. The results of measured doses with the glass beads and ionization chamber in comparison with expected doses from the TPS were analysed using a two-sided paired t-test, and there was no significant difference at p,0.05. Conclusion: It is feasible to use glass-bead TLDs as dosemeters in a range of clinical plan verifications. Advances in knowledge: Commercial glass beads are utilized as low-cost novel TLDs for treatment-plan verification.