Abstract
Objectives
Low-energy electron beams are characterised by low surface doses with a pronounced dose build-up and penetration of several centimetres, but often a higher surface dose and a lower penetration range is desired. The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of an electron spoiler to modify these beams for treating surface skin diseases and evaluate the feasibility of this method.
Materials and methods
An aluminium foil 4-mm thick covering the end of the electron applicator was used as a spoiler for a 6 MeV electron beam. The dosimetric characteristics of this beam were measured, and Monte Carlo simulations were performed.
Results
The spoiler reduced the practical range and increased surface and build-up doses, but it also significantly broadened the penumbra and increased peripheral doses. Nevertheless, the beam was clinically acceptable when skin collimation with lead was employed. Monte Carlo simulations agreed well with all the experimental measurements.
Conclusions
The feasibility of using a low-energy electron beam with a spoiler for treating surface skin diseases was demonstrated. The method is hygienic and avoids some of the disadvantages associated with the bolus technique, but it is valid only for flat surfaces and perpendicular incidence. As a consequence, it can be an alternative to bolus and other reported methods in certain cases, especially when a particular sterility assurance level is required.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Seegenschmiedt MH, Katalinic A, Makoski H et al (2000) Radiation therapy for benign diseases: patterns of care study in Germany. Int J Radiation Oncology Biol Phys 47:195–202
Vatanen T, Traneus E, Lahtinen T (2009) Enhancement of electron-beam surface dose with an electron multi-leaf collimator (eMLC): a feasibility study. Pys Med Biol 54: 2407–2419
Sharma SC, Johnson MW (1993) Surface dose perturbation due to air gap between patient and bolus for electron beams. Med Phys 20:377–378
Low DA, Hogstrom KR (1994) Determination of the relative linear collision stopping power and linear scattering power of electron bolus material. Phys Med Biol 39:1063–1068
Nygaard K, Odland OH, Kvinnsland Y et al (2005) Measurements and treatment planning calculations of electron dose distributions below bolus edges. Radiother Oncol 74:217–220
Moyer RF, King GA, Hauser JF (1986) Lead as surface bolus for high-energy photon and electron therapy. Med Phys 13:263–266
Lambert GD, Richmond ND, Kermode RH et al (1999) The use of high density metal foils to increase surface dose in low-energy clinical electron beams. Radiother Oncol, 53:161–166.
Galbraith DM, Rawlinson JA (1984) Partial bolussing to improve the depth doses in the surface region of low energy electron beams. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 10:313–317
Alasti H, Galbraith DM (1995) Depth dose flattening of electron beams using a wire mesh bolus. Med Phys 22:1675–1683
Phaisangittisakul N, D’souza WD, Ma L (2004) Magnetic collimation and metal foil filtering for electron range and fluence modulation. Med Phys 31:17–23
Raaijmakers AJ, Raaymakers BW, van der Meer S et al (2007) Integrating a MRI scanner with a 6 MV radiotherapy accelerator: impact of the surface orientation on the entrance and exit dose due to the transverse magnetic field. Phys Med Biol 52:929–939
Alam M, Ratner D (2001) Cutaneous squamouscell carcinoma. N Engl J Med 344:975–983
Locke J, Karimpour S, Young G et al (2001) Radiotherapy for epithelial skin cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 51:748–755
Niroomand-Rad A, Javedan K, Rodgers JE et al (1997): Effects of beam spoiler on radiation dose for head and neck irradiation with 10-MV photon beam. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 37:935–940
Kang SK, Cho BC, Park SH et al (2004) Monte-Carlo-based treatment planning for a spoiler system with experimental validation using plane-parallel ionization chambers. Phys Med Biol 49:5145–5155
McKenzie AL (1998) A simple method for matching electron beams in radiotherapy. Phys Med Biol 43:3465–3478
Procedures in external radiation therapy dosimetry with electron and photon beams with maximum energies between 1 and 50 MeV. Recommendations by the Nordic Association of Clinical Physics (1980) Acta Radiol Oncol 19:55–79
IAEA: International Atomic Energy Agency (2000) Absorbed dose determination in external beam radiotherapy: an international code of practice for dosimetry based on standards of absorbed dose to water. Technical Reports Series no. 398, IAEA, Vienna
Salvat F, Fernández-Varea JM, Sempau J (2006) PENELOPE-2006: A code system for Monte Carlo simulation of electron and photon transport, 3rd edn. OECD-NEA; Issy-les-Moulineaux, France. Available from http://www.nea.fr/html/science/pubs/2006/nea6222-penelope.pdf
Verhaegen F, Buffa FM, Deehan C (2001) Quantifying effects of lead shielding in electron beams: a Monte Carlo study. Phys Med Biol 46:757–769
Khan FM, Doppke KP, Hogstrom KR et al (1991) Clinical electron-beam dosimetry: report of AAPM Radiation Therapy Committee Task Group No. 25. Med Phys 18:73–109
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Víctor Hernández and Alberto Sánchez-Reyes contributed equally to this work
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hernández, V., Sánchez-Reyes, A., Badal, A. et al. Use of an electron spoiler for radiation treatment of surface skin diseases. Clin Transl Oncol 12, 374–380 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-010-0519-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-010-0519-3