Measurement of skin dose variations produced by a silicon-based protective dressing in radiotherapy

Variations in skin dose caused by a silicon-based burn dressing used in radiotherapy during treatment have been investigated. Measurement of these variations in skin dose has been achieved using thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) and Gafchromic film. For a 6 MV x-ray beam results have shown that an approximately 0.4 mm thick silicon mesh dressing increases the average surface dose by approximately 12.5% to 14% of the maximum and average dose at 1 mm depth and by 4% to 6% of the maximum for field sizes ranging from 5 cm x 5 cm up to 40 cm x 40 cm at 100 cm source to surface distance (SSD). The radiation effective thickness of the silicon dressing was calculated to be 0.5 mm +/- 0.05 mm water equivalent. TLDs of various thicknesses provide point-dose assessment and Gafchromic film can provide a detailed two-dimensional dose map with a high spatial resolution. Results have shown that a large variation in skin dose is delivered under the dressing depending on the amount of material directly above it as defined by the silicon mesh outline.