Performance Assessment of Semiconductor Detector Used in Diagnostics and Interventional Radiology at the Nigerian Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory

Radiation doses to patients in diagnostics and interventional radiology need to be optimized to comply with the principles of radiation protection in medical practice. This involves using specific detectors with respective diagnostic beams to carry out quality control/quality assurance tests needed to optimize patient doses in the hospital. Semiconductor detectors are used in dosimetry to verify the equipment performance and dose to patients. This work aims to assess the performance, energy dependence, and response of five commercially available semiconductor detectors in RQR, RQR-M, RQA, and RQT at Secondary Standard Dosimetry for clinical applications. The diagnostic beams were generated using Exradin A4 reference ion chamber and PTW electrometer. The ambient temperature and pressure were noted for KTP correction. The detectors designed for RQR showed good performance in RQT beams and vice versa. The detectors designed for RQR-M displayed high energy dependency in other diagnostic beams. The type of diagnostic beam quality determines the response of semiconductor detectors. Therefore, a detector should be calibrated according to the beam qualities to be measured.