title: Reduction of the Bremsstrahlung component of clinical electron beams: implications for electron arc therapy and total skin electron irradiation.
abstract: The dose due to Bremsstrahlung in stationary electron beams of nominal energies in the range 6-20 MeV is typically between 1-7% of the maximum dose and is usually not clinically significant. However, in treatments using rotational or multiple electron beams where the x-ray dose from several beams is added the x-ray dose will reach much higher proportions and will be of clinical significance. Moreover, this dose often is located in normal tissue beyond the target volume. Reduction of this x-ray dose is therefore desirable. In the present study a reduction of the x-ray component of electron beams produced by a Clinac 2100C accelerator by a change of the transmission ion chamber and scattering foils is reported. A reduction in Bremsstrahlung of up to 50% can be achieved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: el-Khatib
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scrimger
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Murray
mesh_terms: D004583:Electrons; D006801:Humans; D010315:Particle Accelerators; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy; D012867:Skin / Q000528:radiation effects*