Evaluation of an electronic portal imaging device for transit dosimetry.

The possibility of using a commercially available electronic portal imaging device for transit dosimetry was investigated. The detection unit of the device comprises a metal plate/fluorescence screen and a camera. Basic parameters of this system were investigated: stability, detector uniformity, dose-response curve, field-size dependence and phantom-thickness dependence. It was found that in terms of relative dosimetry, portal images corrected for detector non-uniformity are in good agreement (within 5%) with transit dose distributions measured by film dosimetry. For dose determination, it was found that the use of the device is hampered by an important field-size dependence and phantom-thickness dependence. Both correction factors should be applied if the device is to be used for this purpose.