A surface bolus material for high-energy photon and electron therapy.
The authors describe a useful bolus material for therapy with high-energy photons and electrons (greater than 1 MeV). Qualities evaluated included flexibility, transparency, tissue equivalence (re radiation interactions), stability at high doses, durability, lack of toxicity, ease in cleaning, low flammability, and cost. Using a parallel-plate ionization chamber and 60Co, 4-, and 10-MV photons as well as 6- and 18-MeV electrons, maximum deviation from water-equivalent values was approximately 2 mm for 6-MeV electrons. The material comes in large sheets of precise thickness (+/- 0.5 mm) which can be cut and layered to form more complex shapes.
D020724:Elastomers; D004583:Electrons; D004601:Elementary Particles; D006801:Humans; D011108:Polymers; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy
D020724:Elastomers; D011108:Polymers; C036925:elastomeric polymer