Guidelines for dosimetry and calibration in ultraviolet radiation therapy.

Guidelines for dosimetry and calibration in ultraviolet radiation therapy: a report of a British Photodermatology Group workshop.

The entire article can be seen by <Clicking Here>

This report examines the dosimetry of ultraviolet (UV) radiation applied to dermatological treatments, and considers the definition of the radiation quantities and their measurement. Guidelines are offered for preferred measurement techniques and standard methods of dosimetry. The recommendations have been graded according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer classification of strength of recommendation and quality of evidence.

The article discusses options and ideas for treatement. I have listed links at the bootom of this posting to other ideas to help with treatment guidlines.

Recommendations and guidelines

1. Whole-body treatments should be given in ventilated cabins surrounding the patient with radiation sources wherever possible, and it is recommended that obsolete apparatus be replaced. (American Joint Committee on Cancer classification: BIII)
2. Phototherapy clinics should use a UV radiometer to measure irradiances from all UV treatment equipment. The meter should have minimal response outside the UV band and be chosen for dynamic range, linearity and angular sensitivity. (BIII)
3. The meter should be calibrated annually for each type of UV source in use, identifying the method, its traceability to known national standards and the waveband over which irradiance is measured. Irradiance over the full UV band of 250–400 nm should also be measured, in addition to any other band width, to facilitate intercomparisons. (BIII)
4. Built-in UV dosimeters in cabins should agree closely with directly measured irradiance values. Where agreement is outside reasonable tolerance (± 10%), the built-in meter may need adjusting. The supplier or the person responsible for the equipment should be consulted for advice. (BIII) The webmaster has an opinion on the use of dosimetry in home systems <Click Here>
5. Electrical equipment should be tested for compliance with electrical safety standards, and staff should be trained to operate the equipment correctly. Annual checks are acceptable, and written records should be kept. (BIII)
6. Regular consistency checks of all UV irradiation apparatus should be performed, by checking for failed lamps and measuring UV irradiance in a standard reference location to identify any changes. Failed lamps should be replaced promptly, and consistency verified at least monthly. (BIII)
7. Skin irradiances should be measured regularly by the Direct or Indirect Methods, and used to calculate exposure times and to check built-in meters. Measurement every 25–50 h of usage is acceptable, but after installing new lamps, which degrade more quickly when new, re-measure after 10–15 h. (BIII)
8. Patient doses should be prescribed in J cm)2 (or derived units), and cumulative doses calculated and recorded at the end of treatment courses, to quantify lifetime exposure to therapeutic UV. (BII-i)
9. MED ⁄ MPD techniques should be described fully, including the site(s) of test(s), the criteria used to assess erythema, the methodology of masking and exposing test sites, including any devices used for this, and the sequence of doses used (or the ratio between adjacent exposures). (BII-iii)
10. The recommendations in this report should be subject to routine audit, as part of the clinic’s audit programme, to verify that objectives are being met, and to optimize clinical outcomes.

Useful Links and Articles

• This article in Full <CLICK HERE>
• UVB Narrow Band: A Practcal Approach <CLICK HERE>
• Initiating Narrow-band UVB for the treatment of Psoriasis <CLICK HERE>