title: Comparison of kilovoltage x-ray and electron beam dose distributions for radiotherapy of the sternum.
abstract: The dose distributions for a patient with cancer involving the sternum were calculated for both a kilovoltage x-ray beam and a megavoltage electron beam. The minimum target dose and dose uniformity over the target volume were significantly better using electrons (90%-101%) than kilovoltage x-rays (68%-119%). The calculated lung dose and integral patient dose were also less for electrons than kilovoltage x-rays. For treating cancers of the sternum with radical intent, megavoltage electrons are recommended as the treatment mode of choice rather than kilovoltage x-rays.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Therapy Center, Liverpool, Australia. pjkeall@hsc.vcu.edu
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Keall
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Monti di Sopra
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Beckham
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Delaney
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D004583:Electrons; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000528:radiation effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D013249:Sternum / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary; D014965:X-Rays