title: Dosimetric measurements of an n-butyl cyanoacrylate embolization material for arteriovenous malformations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The therapeutic regimen for cranial arteriovenous malformations often involves both stereotactic radiosurgery and endovascular embolization. Embolization agents may contain tantalum or other contrast agents to assist the neurointerventionalists, leading to concerns regarding the dosimetric effects of these agents. This study investigated dosimetric properties of n-butyl cyanoacrylate (n-BCA) plus lipiodol with and without tantalum powder.
  
  
  METHODS
  The embolization agents were provided cured from the manufacturer with and without added tantalum. Attenuation measurements were made for the samples and compared to the attenuation of a solid water substitute using a 6 MV photon beam. Effective linear attenuation coefficients (ELAC) were derived from attenuation measurements made using a portal imager and derived sample thickness maps projected in an identical geometry. Probable dosimetric errors for calculations in which the embolized regions are overridden with the properties of water were calculated using the ELAC values. Interface effects were investigated using a parallel plate ion chamber placed at set distances below fixed samples. Finally, Hounsfield units (HU) were measured using a stereotactic radiosurgery CT protocol, and more appropriate HU values were derived from the ELAC results and the CT scanner's HU calibration curve.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ELAC was 0.0516 ± 0.0063 cm(-1) and 0.0580 ± 0.0091 cm(-1) for n-BCA without and with tantalum, respectively, compared to 0.0487 ± 0.0009 cm(-1) for the water substitute. Dose calculations with the embolized region set to be water equivalent in the treatment planning system would result in errors of -0.29% and -0.93% per cm thickness of n-BCA without and with tantalum, respectively. Interface effects compared to water were small in magnitude and limited in distance for both embolization materials. CT values at 120 kVp were 2082 and 2358 HU for n-BCA without and with tantalum, respectively; dosimetrically appropriate HU values were estimated to be 79 and 199 HU, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The dosimetric properties of the embolization agents are very close to those of water for a 6 MV beam. Therefore, treating the entire intracranial space as uniform in composition will result in less than 1% dosimetric error for n-BCA emboli smaller than 3.4 cm without added tantalum and n-BCA emboli smaller than 1.1 cm with added tantalum. Furthermore, when effective embolization can be achieved by the neurointerventionalist using n-BCA without tantalum, the dosimetric impact of overriding material properties will be lessened. However, due to the high attenuation of embolization agents with and without added tantalum for diagnostic energies, artifacts may occur that necessitate additional imaging to accurately identify the spatial extent of the region to be treated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53792.
authors.forename: Zacariah E
authors.initials: ZE
authors.lastname: Labby
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurointerventional Radiology, Departments of Radiology and Neurosurgery, University of Michigan Hospital and Health Systems, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109.
authors.forename: Neeraj
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chaudhary
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurointerventional Radiology, Departments of Radiology, Neurosurgery, and Otolaryngology, University of Michigan Hospital and Health Systems, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109.
authors.forename: Joseph J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Gemmete
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan Hospital and Health Systems, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109.
authors.forename: Aditya S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.affiliation: Radiation Physics Division, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan Hospital and Health Systems, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109.
authors.forename: Donald A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D001165:Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D002138:Calibration; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods; D004659:Enbucrilate; D004998:Ethiodized Oil; D006401:Hematologic Agents; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D017785:Photons; D011208:Powders; D013635:Tantalum / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D006401:Hematologic Agents; D011208:Powders; D014867:Water; D013635:Tantalum; D004998:Ethiodized Oil; D004659:Enbucrilate