title: Radiation shielding for gamma stereotactic radiosurgery units.
abstract: Shielding calculations for gamma stereotactic radiosurgery units are complicated by the fact that the radiation is highly anisotropic. Shielding design for these devices is unique. Although manufacturers will answer questions about the data that they provide for shielding evaluation, they will not perform calculations for customers. More than 237 such units are now installed in centers worldwide. Centers installing a gamma radiosurgery unit find themselves in the position of having to either invent or reinvent a method for performing shielding design. This paper introduces a rigorous and conservative method for barrier design for gamma stereotactic radiosurgery treatment rooms. This method should be useful to centers planning either to install a new unit or to replace an existing unit. The method described here is consistent with the principles outlined in Report No. 151 from the U.S. National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements. In as little as 1 hour, a simple electronic spreadsheet can be set up, which will provide radiation levels on planes parallel to the barriers and 0.3 m outside the barriers.
authors: Radiation Oncology Center, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan, U.S.A.
authors: Patrick N
authors: PN
authors: McDermott
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006749:Hospital Design and Construction / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D016634:Radiosurgery / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*
references: Med Phys. 2001 Apr;28(4):620-8
references: 11339760