title: Improved dose homogeneity in the breast using tissue compensators.
abstract: The improvements achievable by introducing individual tissue compensators in photon therapy of the breast were assessed. In 37 patients the dose ranged from +15% to -10% of the mid target dose using combinations of wedge filters and beam weights alone. With a tissue compensator the dose ranged from +4% to -11% provided that allowance was made for lung attenuation. A megavoltage imaging system is a potential source of the X-ray transmission data which can provide a basis for the calculation of thickness of the compensator.
authors.affiliation: Joint Department of Physics, Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, U.K.
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Mayles
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Yarnold
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Webb
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000528:radiation effects; D011827:Radiation; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy