Keywords:
Breast, Radioprotection / Radiation dose, Dosimetry, Physics, Radiation therapy / Oncology
Authors:
T. Berris1, M. Mazonakis2, J. Stratakis2, A. Tzedakis1, A. Fasoulaki1, J. Damilakis2; 1Heraklion/GR, 2Iraklion/GR
DOI:
10.1594/ecr2011/C-0122
Purpose
Breast cancer comprises the second deadliest type of cancer for the female population of the United States of America [1,
2].
Despite the recent increase in breast cancer incidence,
mortality associated with this type of cancer has declined,
because of the improvement of diagnostic and therapeutic techniques [1].
Radiation therapy comprises one of the most effective treatments for breast cancer. Reported experience has suggested that a local control rate of 90% to 95% can be achieved for early stage cancer patients [3].
The number of patients receiving radiation therapy for breast cancer has increased during the last decades [4].
About 25% of cancer cases treated by radiotherapy departments each year are associated with breast cancer [5].
The assessment of the risk for second cancer induction might be of clinical value due to the good prognosis for breast cancer cases.
The first step towards the determination of second cancer induction risk is the accurate determination of radiation dose received by the patient's radiosensitive organs.
The aims of the current study were to:
- Construct a simulated medical linear accelerator (LINAC) model.
- Verify the simulated beam's dosimetric characteristics by comparison with data measured on an actual LINAC using a water phantom.
- Use the beam model to simulate breast cancer radiotherapy with lateral and medial fields and to subsequently estimate the radiation doses to organs at risk.