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Skin dose measurements for head and neck radiotherapy
C Fiorino1, G M Cattaneo, A del Vecchio
1Department of Radiation Physics, Scientific Institute H. San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
Medical Physics
|September 1, 1992
Summary
Immobilization masks and accessories in head and neck radiotherapy increase skin dose. This study quantifies the surface dose increase from plastic materials and treatment devices during radiation therapy.
Area of Science:
- Medical Physics
- Radiation Oncology
- Radiotherapy Dosimetry
Background:
- Megavoltage photon beams in radiotherapy offer skin-sparing benefits.
- Immobilization devices like plastic masks can reduce these skin benefits.
- Ancillary treatment devices can further impact surface dose distribution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure the increase in surface dose caused by 2 and 3.2 mm of plastic immobilization material.
- To evaluate the effect of blocking trays, wedges, and blocks on skin dose in head and neck irradiation.
- To understand the dosimetric impact of immobilization and treatment accessories on patient skin.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a Markus type ionization chamber (NE2534) for measurements.
- Employed a perspex phantom simulating patient tissue.
- Irradiated using 6 MeV x-rays from a linear accelerator.
Main Results:
- Quantified the surface dose increase attributed to specific thicknesses of immobilization plastic.
- Determined the additional skin dose contribution from blocking trays, wedges, and blocks.
- Established the combined effect of immobilization and treatment accessories on surface dose.
Conclusions:
- Immobilization plastic masks and treatment accessories significantly increase skin dose in head and neck radiotherapy.
- These findings are crucial for optimizing radiation therapy techniques to minimize skin toxicity.
- Further research may explore alternative materials or techniques to preserve skin-sparing effects.