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A simple oral cone attachment for the Varian linear accelerator
M Cederbaum1, M Zalik, E Rosenblatt
1Northern Israel Oncology Center, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa.
Summary
A novel, low-cost acrylic cone attachment for electron beam therapy enables precise irradiation of oral cavity lesions. This method allows for dose escalation, sparing healthy tissues and improving treatment outcomes for oral cancer patients.
Area of Science:
- Radiation Oncology
- Medical Physics
Background:
- Oral cavity lesions often treated with opposed lateral fields, irradiating significant healthy tissue.
- Radiation tolerance of normal tissues limits tumoricidal doses.
- Brachytherapy or small electron fields can boost tumor dose.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a simple, low-cost attachment for electron applicators to deliver small electron fields directly to oral lesions.
- To assess the dosimetric properties of oral cones for various electron energies.
Main Methods:
- Developed a custom acrylic cone attachment for a Varian Clinac 1800 electron applicator.
- Evaluated depth dose and field profiles for 6, 9, 12, 16, and 20 MeV electrons using film dosimetry.
- Assessed changes in output factors, depth dose, and effective field size at small field dimensions.
Main Results:
- The oral cones allow for irradiation of small electron fields directly on the lesion.
- Significant changes in output factors, depth dose, and effective field size were observed at small field sizes.
- Thorough dosimetric evaluation is crucial before clinical implementation.
Conclusions:
- The developed oral cone attachment is a feasible, low-cost method for precise electron beam irradiation of oral cavity lesions.
- This technique allows for dose escalation to tumors while sparing surrounding healthy tissues.
- Further dosimetric characterization is essential for safe and effective clinical application.