Evaluation of optimum room entry times for radiation therapists after high energy whole pelvic photon treatments.
OBJECTIVE
Linear accelerators operating at or above 10 MV produce neutrons by photonuclear reactions and induce activation in machine components, which are a source of potential exposure for radiation therapists. This study estimated gamma dose contributions to radiation therapists during high energy, whole pelvic, photon beam treatments and determined the optimum room entry times, in terms of safety of radiation therapists.


METHODS
Two types of technique (anterior-posterior opposing and 3-field technique) were studied. An Elekta Precise treatment system, operating up to 18 MV, was investigated. Measurements with an area monitoring device (a Mini 900R radiation monitor) were performed, to calculate gamma dose rates around the radiotherapy facility. Measurements inside the treatment room were performed when the linear accelerator was in use. The doses received by radiation therapists were estimated, and optimum room entry times were determined.


RESULTS
The highest gamma dose rates were approximately 7 μSv/h inside the treatment room, while the doses in the control room were close to background (~0 μSv/h) for all techniques. The highest personal dose received by radiation therapists was estimated at 5 mSv/yr. To optimize protection, radiation therapists should wait for up to11 min after beam-off prior to room entry.


CONCLUSIONS
The potential risks to radiation therapists with standard safety procedures were well below internationally recommended values, but risks could be further decreased by delaying room entry times. Dependent on the technique used, optimum entry times ranged between 7 to 11 min. A balance between moderate treatment times versus reduction in measured equivalent doses should be considered.
Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong.
Lavine
L
Ho
Peter
P
White
Edward
E
Chan
Kim
K
Chan
Janet
J
Ng
Timothy
T
Tam
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016272:Occupational Health; D010388:Pelvis / Q000528:radiation effects*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation / Q000009:adverse effects*