How Radiation Dosimetry Supports Safe Medical Care

Radiation therapy is one of the most effective treatments for many kinds of cancer, helping to destroy tumours and save lives. Because these treatments use high-energy radiation directed at specific parts of the body, accuracy is critical - regardless of how small the dose is. Even small inaccuracies can affect how well a tumour is treated or increase the risk of side effects.

This is where dosimetry plays a vital role. Dosimetry measures how much radiation is delivered during medical procedures and ensures that patients receive exactly the dose prescribed. Reliable dose measurement is essential for safe and effective radiotherapy, diagnostic imaging and nuclear medicine.

The IAEA works with countries to strengthen dosimetry practices through standards, audits, training and laboratory support.

For more than six decades, the IAEA Dosimetry Laboratory in Seibersdorf, Austria - established in 1961 and now modernized through the IAEA's Renovation of the Nuclear Applications Laboratories projects - has been helping countries strengthen the accuracy of their radiation measurements. Through calibration services, audits, training and scientific support, the Laboratory helps ensure that cancer patients worldwide can receive safe and accurate doses.

In October 2025, the IAEA inaugurated the Curie-Meitner Nuclear Applications Centre in Seibersdorf, completing the modernization project. This new facility is a major upgrade to the IAEA's nuclear science and applications laboratories, strengthening the support provided to countries using nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

We spoke to Zakithi Msimang, an IAEA medical radiation physicist.