title: Radiation therapy in cochlear implant recipients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Processes of scattering and attenuation were investigated to determine the consequence on dose distributions by having a cochlear implant in the field of therapeutic radiation.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Radiation oncology medical accelerator beams of 6- and 18-MV x-ray energy were used. Five cochlear implants were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each implant model was individually studied using computer dose modeling and through exercises in radiation measurement during live delivery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No side scatter was detected, and negligible backscattering was observed for the primary device housing and electrodes. Attenuation consequences were found to be dependent on the model of cochlear implant studied and specifically dependent on the material composition of each device.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The maximum attenuated dose change for the study was found to be -8.8% for 6 MV and -6.6% for 18 MV. This study presents the first comparison of therapeutic radiation delivery versus computerized treatment simulation involving cochlear implants.
authors: Radiation Oncology Department, Tri-State Regional Cancer Center, Ashland, Kentucky 41139, USA. mgossman@tsrcc.com
authors: Michael S
authors: MS
authors: Gossman
authors: Claudiu G
authors: CG
authors: Treaba
authors: Jonathon R
authors: JR
authors: Kirk
mesh_terms: D003054:Cochlear Implants; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011878:Radiotherapy; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage