title: Play-Doh and water-soaked gauze sponges as alternative bolus material for cobalt-60 teletherapy.
abstract: A study was performed to determine if carefully made boluses of either Play-Doh, or water-soaked cotton gauze sponges differed from the commercial bolus material, Superflab, in producing maximum radiation dose when irradiated with cobalt-60 photons. The radiation doses were measured with thermoluminescent dosimeters calibrated to be accurate for cobalt-60 photon energies at doses less than 10.0 cGy. The resulting radiation doses were similar when using Play-Doh, water-soaked sponges, or Superlab. Doses resulting from Play-Doh boluses more consistently approximated those of Superflab. The results of this study suggest that either Play-Doh or water-soaked cotton gauze sponges can suffice as material for carefully made bolus for cobalt-60 teletherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA. mwalker@cvm.tamu.edu
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Noah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Menchaca
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003368:Gossypium; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage / Q000662:veterinary*; D015503:Surgical Sponges / Q000662:veterinary; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes; D014867:Water