scope:

It is intended to serve as a complete and self-contained reference for the determination of absorbed dose in a proton beam, in a homogeneous water phantom, at a reference point. Part II of the set, to be published later, will deal with the influence of patient shape and tissue heterogeneity on dose distribution and will include description of treatment planning considerations and also cover the definition of beam quality and clinical radiobiological effectiveness of proton beams relative to photon beams. Major sections of ICRU Report 59 are:

1. Introduction

2. Production of Proton Beams for Therapeutic Applications

3. Pertinent Quantities and Units

4. Proton Interactions with Matter

5. Determination of Proton Absorbed Dose in Reference Conditions

6. Beam Monitoring and Relative Dosimetry

7. Recommendations for Determination of Absorbed Dose in a Phantom One appendix sets out information on quality assurance and another provides a dosimetry