title: Effects of neurosurgical titanium mesh on radiation dose.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the dosimetric impact of a neurosurgical titanium mesh in patients treated with 6- and 18-MV photon beams. The effects of a 0.4-mm-thick titanium mesh on the dose profile at 3 regions within a solid water phantom were measured using extended dose range-2 (EDR2) film for 6- and 18-MV photon beams. All measurements were performed with the titanium mesh placed at a depth of 1.5 cm in the phantom. Films were exposed immediately above the mesh, immediately below the mesh, and at a depth of 5 cm from the surface of the phantom. The films were scanned using a scanning densitometer. In the region directly above the titanium mesh, there was an increase in dose of 7.1% for 6-MV photons and 4.9% for 18-MV photons. Directly below the titanium mesh, there was an average decrease in dose of 1.5% for 6-MV photons and an increase of 1.0% for 18-MV photons. At 5-cm depth, for 6- and 18-MV photons, there was a decrease in dose of 2.2% and 0.6%, respectively. We concluded that for cranial irradiation with high-energy photons, the dosimetric impact of a 0.4-mm titanium mesh is small and does not require modification in treatment parameters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. hash.patone@mail.mcgill.ca
authors.forename: Hassisen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Patone
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barker
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roberge
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016371:Cranial Irradiation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D017785:Photons; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D014025:Titanium
chemical_list: D014025:Titanium