ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Given the importance of scattered and low doses in secondary cancer caused by radiation treatment, the point dose of critical organs, which were not subjected to radiation treatment in breast cancer radiotherapy, was measured. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the peripheral dose in two techniques of breast cancer radiotherapy with two energies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eight different plans in two techniques (conventional and conformal) and two photon energies (6 and 15 MeV) were applied to Rando Alderson Phantom's DICOM images. Nine organs were contoured in the treatment planning system and specified on the phantom. To measure the photon dose, forty-eight thermoluminescence dosimeters (MTS700) were positioned in special places on the above nine organs and plans were applied to Rando phantom with Elekta presice linac. To obtain approximately the same dose distribution in the clinical organ volume, a wedge was used on planes with an energy of 6 MeV photon. RESULTS: Point doses in critical organs with 8 different plans demonstrated that scattering in low-energy photon is greater than high-energy photon. In contrast, neutron contamination in high-energy photon is not negligible. Using the wedge and shield impose greater scattering and neutron contamination on patients with low-and high-energy photon, respectively. CONCLUSION: Deciding on techniques and energies required for preparing an acceptable treatment plan in terms of scattering and neutron contamination is a key issue that may affect the probability of secondary cancer in a patient.
