The effect of lead attenuators on dose in homogeneous phantoms

In radiotherapy, the radiation beam is sometimes shaped so as to deliver different doses to different organs or give a homogeneous dose to structures of different densities. This objective is achieved by the use of attenuating materials introduced into the beam. These attenuators alter the primary as well as the scattered radiation components of the beam. There is at present no accurate method of dose calculation for these situations. Most calculations are performed considering only the effect of the attenuators on the primary radiation beam and can produce large errors in dosimetry. In the present study, the broad beam attenuation is investigated in homogeneous phantoms for various radiation field sizes, photon beam energies, and depths in phantom. A calculational method taking account of primary as well as first scatter radiation is developed. This method predicts reasonably well the transmission through lead attenuators for the various experimental conditions investigated.