Thermoluminescence in medical dosimetry

Thermoluminescence dosimetry (TLD) is applied worldwide for personal and medical dosimetry. TLD method has resulted in many interesting findings in medicine as TL dosimeters have many relevant advantages such as high sensitivity, small physical size, tissue equivalence, etc. The main characteristics of various TL materials used in radiation measurements and their practical consequences are overviewed: well defined TL glow curve, batch homogeneity, signal stability after irradiation, precision and accuracy, response with dose, and influence of energy. In this paper a brief summary of the advances in the application of thermally stimulated luminescence (TSL) to dosimetry in radiation therapy application is presented.

► Thermoluminescence (TL) in radiotherapy was proposed as routine dosimetry method.
► Patient skin dose distribution is determined by the TLD method.
► TLD is a good tool for treatment planning and quality assurance in radiation therapy.
► An integral dosimetry method (IDM) for medical dosimetry is proposed.