A simplified shielding approach for limiting fetal dose during radiation therapy of pregnant patients

• Published in: International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics Vol. 49; no. 5; pp. 1469 - 1473
• Main Authors: Islam, Mohammad K, Saeedi, Fathi, Al-Rajhi, Nasser
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.04.2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - radiotherapy; Diseases of the upper aerodigestive tract; Ent and stomatology; Equipment Design; Female; Fetal dose; Fetus; Humans; Leakage radiation; Medical sciences; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Peripheral dose; Phantoms, Imaging; Physical Phenomena; Physics; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic - radiotherapy; Pregnant patient; Radiation Protection - instrumentation; Radiotherapy; Radiotherapy Dosage; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Scattering, Radiation; Tumors; Upper respiratory tract, upper alimentary tract, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands: diseases, semeiology; Leakage radiation; Pregnant patient; Peripheral dose; Fetal dose; Radiotherapy; Human; Evaluation; Treatment efficiency; Nasopharynx; Shielding; Malignant tumor; Prevention; Radiation dose; Radiation injury; ENT disease; Adult; Female; Fetus; Pharynx disease; Dosimetry; Technique
• ISSN: 0360-3016; 1879-355X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0360-3016(01)01447-X

Purpose: To investigate the effectiveness of a simple and practical shielding device to reduce fetal dose for a patient undergoing radiation therapy of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods and Materials: Using 5-cm-thick lead bricks and a heavy-duty steel cart, a 50 × 50-cm portable shield was designed and fabricated to reduce fetal dose due to collimator scatter and head leakage radiation. With the gantry at 90°/270° the shield can be easily positioned between the machine head and the fetus to reduce peripheral dose. Dose measurements for 6-MV X-rays and 9-MeV electrons have been made, utilizing a Rando phantom, to quantify the effect of the shield. Results: Measurements show that the peripheral dose to the fetus can be reduced by 60% when the simple shielding device is used.