Clinical implementation of the AAPM Task Group 36 recommendations on fetal dose from radiotherapy with photon beams:

K L Prado1, S J Nelson, J J Nuyttens

  • 1Radiation Oncology Department, Medical University of South Carolina, 171 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, South Carolina 29425, USA. kprado@mdanderson.org

We present the results of our efforts in estimating and diminishing the fetal dose expected when a 29-year-old patient, 22 weeks pregnant, received external beam radiation therapy for a squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue. We explain our use of the information contained, and recommendations made, in the Report of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine Radiation Therapy Committee Task Group 36 [Med. Phys. 22, 63-82 (1995)]. We also explain our dose estimation, describe our validation measurements, and demonstrate the effectiveness of supplemental shielding. Consequently, this case report will serve as a guide to radiation oncologists and medical physicists who may encounter similar cases.

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