Korean J Med Phys.  2010 Mar;21(1):86-92.

Skin Damage Sustained During Head-and-Neck and Shoulder Radiotherapy Due to the Curvature of Skin and the Use of Immobilization Mask

• Kim S
• Jeung TS
• Lim S
• Park YM
• Park D

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to measure curvature contour skin dose using radiochromic film and TLD for a conventional open field. We also attempted to quantify the degradation of skin sparing associated with use of immobilization devices for high energy photon beams and to calculate the skin dose with a help of Monte Carlo (MC) simulation. To simulate head-and-neck and shoulder treatment, a cylindrical solid water phantom 11 cm in diameter was irradiated with 6 MV x-rays using 40x40 cm2 field at 100 cm source axis distance (SAD) to the center of the phantom. Aquaplastic mesh mask was placed on the surface of the cylindrical phantom that mimicked relevant clinical situations. The skin dose profile was obtained by taking measurements from 0degrees to 360degrees around the circumference of the cylindrical phantom. The skin doses obtained from radiochromic film were found to be 47% of the maximum dose of D(max) at the 0degrees beam entry position and 61% at the 90degrees oblique beam position without the mask. Using the mask (1.5 mm), the skin dose received was 59% at 0degrees incidence and 78% at 80degrees incidence. Skin dose results were also gathered using thin thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD). With the mask, the skin dose was 66% at 0degrees incidence and 80% at 80degrees incidence. This method with the mask revealed the similar pattern as film measurement. For the treatments of the head-and-neck and shoulder regions in which immobilization mask was used, skin doses at around tangential angle were nearly the same as the prescription dose. When a sloping skin contour is encountered, skin doses may be abated using thinner and more perforated immoblization devices which should still maintain immoblization.

Keyword

Curvature of skin; Skin damage; Immobilization mask; Oblique incidence; Monte Carlo simulation

MeSH Terms

Axis, Cervical Vertebra
Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium
Immobilization
Incidence
Masks
Prescriptions
Shoulder
Skin
Water
Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium
Water