Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Comparing the performance of some dedicated radioprotection disks in breast intraoperative electron radiotherapy: a Monte Carlo study

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Radiation and Environmental Biophysics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Radiation-shielding of healthy tissue is mandatory in breast intraoperative electron radiotherapy (IOERT). In this regard, dedicated radioprotection disks have been introduced. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the performance of three radioprotection disks widely used for breast IOERT. A Monte Carlo simulation approach was used for this purpose. The considered disks included Al + Pb, PMMA + Copper, and PTFE + Steel. They were stimulated by means of the MCNPX Monte Carlo code at depths around R100 and R90 of different electron energies in a water phantom, and their impact on the dosimetric properties of the therapeutic beam was evaluated in both correct and upside down disk placements. The electron energy spectrum immediately above and below each disk was calculated and analyzed. Furthermore, performance characteristics of the studied disks such as backscatter factors (BSFs) and transmission factors (TFs) at different electron energies were determined and compared. The results show that the Al + Pb disk most effectively attenuates the beam, while at the same time exhibits maximum BSF values. Employing the PMMA + Copper disk can minimize the BSF value but at the expense of an increased TF. The Al + Pb disk showed the best performance from the radiation protection viewpoint, while its highest BSF values could lead to perturbation of dose homogeneity within the target volume. PTFE + Steel disk showed an intermediate performance regarding the electron backscattering and transmission among the studied disks. The reverse placement of each disk can substantially increase the BSF value as compared to the correct situation but had less impact on the TF value.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akbari ME, Nafissi N, Mahdavi SR, Mirzaei H, Ziyayi F, Baghani HR, Motamedi MHK (2018) Pros and cons of intraoperative radiotherapy: comparison of two clinical trials in breast cancer management. Int J Cancer Manage 11:e68915

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alhamada H, Simon S, Philippson C, Vandekerkhove C, Jourani Y, Pauly N, Dubus A, Reynaert N (2018) Shielding disk position in intra-operative electron radiotherapy (IOERT): a Monte Carlo study. Phys Med 51:1–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baghani HR, Aghamiri SMR, Mahdavi SR, Akbari ME, Mirzaei HR (2015) Comparing the dosimetric characteristics of the electron beam from dedicated intraoperative and conventional radiotherapy accelerators. J Appl Clin Med Phys 16:62–72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baghani HR, Aghdam SRH, Robatjazi M, Mahdavi SR (2019) Monte Carlo-based determination of radiation leakage dose around a dedicated IOERT accelerator. Radiat Environ Biophys 58:263–276

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beddar AS, Biggs PJ, Chang S, Ezzell GA, Faddegon BA, Hensley FW, Mills MD (2006) Intraoperative radiation therapy using mobile electron linear accelerators: report of AAPM radiation therapy committee task group no. 72. Med Phys 33:1476–1489

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guenzi M, Bonzano E, Corvò R, Merolla F, Pastorino A, Cavagnetto F, Garelli S, Cutolo CA, Friedman D, Belgioia L (2018) Comparison of local recurrence among early breast cancer patients treated with electron intraoperative radiotherapy vs hypofractionated photon radiotherapy. An observational study. Front Oncol 8:207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harris EE, Small W Jr (2017) Intraoperative radiotherapy for breast cancer. Front Oncol 7:317

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heidarloo N, Baghani HR, Aghamiri SMR, Mahdavi SR, Akbari ME (2017) Commissioning of beam shaper applicator for conformal intraoperative electron radiotherapy. Appl Radiat Isot 123:69–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Intra M, Gatti G, Luini A, Galimberti V, Veronesi P, Zurrida S, Frasson A, Ciocca M, Orecchia R, Veronesi U (2002) Surgical technique of intraoperative radiotherapy in conservative treatment of limited-stage breast cancer. Arch Surg 137:737–740

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaiser J, Reitsamer R, Kopp P, Gaisberger C, Kopp M, Fischer T, Zehentmayr F, Sedlmayer F, Fastner G (2018) Intraoperative electron radiotherapy (IOERT) in the treatment of primary breast cancer. Breast Care 13:162–167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knoll GF (2010) Radiation detection and measurement. Wiley, Hoboken

    Google Scholar 

  • Martignano A, Menegotti L, Valentini A (2007) Monte Carlo investigation of breast intraoperative radiation therapy with metal attenuator plates. Med Phys 34:4578–4584

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Njeh CF, Saunders MW, Langton CM (2010) Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI): a review of available techniques. Radiat Oncol 5:90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oshima T, Aoyama Y, Shimozato T, Sawaki M, Imai T, Ito Y, Obata Y, Tabushi K (2009) An experimental attenuation plate to improve the dose distribution in intraoperative electron beam radiotherapy for breast cancer. Phys Med Biol 54:3491

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pelowitz DB (2008) MCNPX user’s manual, version 2.6.0, LA-CP-07-1473. Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos

    Google Scholar 

  • Righi S, Karaj E, Felici G, Di Martino F (2013) Dosimetric characteristics of electron beams produced by two mobile accelerators, Novac7 and Liac, for intraoperative radiation therapy through Monte Carlo simulation. J Appl Clin Med Phys 14:6–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robatjazi M, Tanha K, Mahdavi S, Baghani H, Mirzaei H, Mousavi M, Nafissi N, Akbari E (2018) Monte Carlo simulation of electron beams produced by LIAC intraoperative radiation therapy accelerator. J Biomed Phys Eng 8:43–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Russo G, Casarino C, Arnetta G, Candiano G, Stefano A, Alongi F, Borasi G, Messa C, Gilardi MC (2012) Dose distribution changes with shielding disc misalignments and wrong orientations in breast IOERT: a Monte Carlo–GEANT4 and experimental study. J Appl Clin Med Phys 13:74–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Severgnini M, de Denaro M, Bortul M, Vidali C, Beorchia A (2015) In vivo dosimetry and shielding disk alignment verification by EBT3 GAFCHROMIC film in breast IOERT treatment. J Appl Clin Med Phys 16:112–120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soriani A, Felici G, Fantini M, Paolucci M, Borla O, Evangelisti G, Benassi M, Strigari L (2010) Radiation protection measurements around a 12 MeV mobile dedicated IORT accelerator. Med Phys 37:995–1003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Veronesi U, Orecchia R, Luini A, Gatti G, Intra M, Zurrida S, Ivaldi G, Tosi G, Ciocca M, Tosoni A (2001) A preliminary report of intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) in limited-stage breast cancers that are conservatively treated. Eur J Cancer 37:2178–2183

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physics Department, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran

    Hamid Reza Baghani

  2. Medical Physics and Radiological Sciences Department, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran

    Mostafa Robatjazi

  3. Medical Physics Department, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Seyed Rabi Mahdavi

Authors
  1. Hamid Reza Baghani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mostafa Robatjazi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Seyed Rabi Mahdavi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mostafa Robatjazi.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Baghani, H.R., Robatjazi, M. & Mahdavi, S.R. Comparing the performance of some dedicated radioprotection disks in breast intraoperative electron radiotherapy: a Monte Carlo study. Radiat Environ Biophys 59, 265–281 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00411-020-00836-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00411-020-00836-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation