Surface doses for acrylic versus lead acrylic blocking trays for Co-60, 8-MV, and 17-MV photons.
Clear acrylic trays are commonly used on teletherapy units to support freehand and custom-molded blocks for photon beam irradiation. While these trays have many desirable physical characteristics, they have the disadvantage of degrading the buildup region by contribution of low-energy electrons to the patient's surface. Recently, clear leaded acrylic has been introduced and suggested as a replacement for acrylic. The effect of the lead acrylic on the buildup region was investigated for cobalt-60, 8-MV, and 17-MV x-ray beams. The lead acrylic was found to decrease the surface dose compared to acrylic. Except for cobalt-60, the lead acrylic results in a higher dose than an open wire tray.
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007854:Lead; D010315:Particle Accelerators; D011867:Radioisotope Teletherapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy / Q000295:instrumentation; D013679:Technology, Radiologic
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes; D007854:Lead