Alopecia associated with unexpected leakage from electron cone

• Published in: International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics Vol. 16; no. 6; pp. 1637 - 1641
• Main Authors: Wen, B-Chen, Pennington, Edward C., Hussey, David H., Jani, Shirish K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.06.1989; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alopecia; Alopecia - etiology; Biological and medical sciences; Diseases of the nervous system; Electrons; Equipment Failure; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Particle Accelerators; Radiation leakage; Radiotherapy - adverse effects; Radiotherapy - instrumentation; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Radiation leakage; Alopecia; Hair; Human; Skin disease; Nervous system diseases; Defective operation; Leiomyosarcoma; Radiation injury; Tumor; Apparatus; Radiotherapy
• ISSN: 0360-3016; 1879-355X
• DOI: 10.1016/0360-3016(89)90974-7

Excessive irradiation due to unexpected leakage was found on a patient receiving electron beam therapy. The cause of this leakage was analyzed and the amount of leakage was measured for different electron beam energies. The highest leakage occured with 6 × 6 cm cone using a 12 MeV electron beam. The leakage dose measured along theside of the cone could be as great as 40%. Until the cones are modified or redesigned, it is advised that all patient setups be carefully reviewed to assure that no significant patient areas are in the side scatter region.