title: Improved dose distribution in the brain by collimator rotation.
abstract: Because the head slopes both in the sagittal and lateral directions, the brain is one of the anatomical areas which could benefit by the use of 3-dimensional compensators. The fabrication of 3-dimensional compensators is an expensive and complex task, and as such, not widely used. A standard wedge is often employed to compensate for skull curvature when treating a partial brain area, with the heel of the wedge placed either superior or lateral. This usually results in areas of over- and under dosage in the planning target volume. However, by rotating the collimator 45 degrees while using a standard wedge, with the heel placed superior-lateral, the dose distribution can be significantly improved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Albany Medical College, NY 12208, USA.
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Kohut
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krishnamoorthy
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D011874:Radiometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012399:Rotation