Measurement of skin dose variations produced by a silicon-based protective dressing in radiotherapy.
Variations in skin dose caused by a silicon-based burn dressing used in radiotherapy during treatment have been investigated. Measurement of these variations in skin dose has been achieved using thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) and Gafchromic film. For a 6 MV x-ray beam results have shown that an approximately 0.4 mm thick silicon mesh dressing increases the average surface dose by approximately 12.5% to 14% of the maximum and average dose at 1 mm depth and by 4% to 6% of the maximum for field sizes ranging from 5 cm x 5 cm up to 40 cm x 40 cm at 100 cm source to surface distance (SSD). The radiation effective thickness of the silicon dressing was calculated to be 0.5 mm +/- 0.05 mm water equivalent. TLDs of various thicknesses provide point-dose assessment and Gafchromic film can provide a detailed two-dimensional dose map with a high spatial resolution. Results have shown that a large variation in skin dose is delivered under the dressing depending on the amount of material directly above it as defined by the silicon mesh outline.
Department of Physics and Materials Science, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, People's Republic of China. mbutson@guessmail.com
Martin J
MJ
Butson
Tsang
T
Cheung
Peter K N
PK
Yu
Peter
P
Metcalfe
D006801:Humans; D020011:Protective Agents; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012825:Silicon; D012867:Skin / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014962:X-Ray Film; D014965:X-Rays
D020011:Protective Agents; D012825:Silicon