Dosimetry of anterior chest treatment by 10 MV X-rays using a tissue compensating filter

The dose uniformity of anterior chest treatments resulting from a missing tissue compensating filter has been studied. Patient dosimetry with 10 MV X-rays was simulated using film, an ionization chamber, and thermoluminescent dosimetry (TLD). The results show that the compensating filter greatly improved the dose uniformity of a homogeneous phantom. However, the improvement for an inhomogeneous phantom and for patients was found to be less impressive. When using the filter, the increase in surface dose was found to be clinically insignificant.