Measurement of dose perturbation around shielded ovoids in high-dose-rate brachytherapy

PURPOSE: To analyze the effect of tungsten shields present in a Fletcher-Suit-Delclos ovoid by comparing the dose distribution computed by a treatment planning system (TPS) to the delivered dose distribution measured by radiochromic film dosimetry. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Gafchromic/EBT films were carefully wrapped around the caps (diameter 20-25 mm) of shielded as well as unshielded ovoids, including their anterior and posterior ends. The ovoids were irradiated to a dose of 300 cGy using a high dose rate remote afterloading unit. The films were scanned using Vidar VXR-16 Scanner. The dose distribution in the planes above, below, and on the sides of the ovoid were compared with the dose distribution computed by TPS, which does not account for the presence of shields. RESULTS: The dose distributions obtained about the unshielded ovoid from film dosimetry was in order of what is computed by TPS (90% measurements +/- 5%, maximum 8%). The dose reduction in the anterior part of the shielded ovoid affects maximally the dose to the bladder where a reduction up to 20% was noted. The reduction of dose in the posterior part of the ovoid, which is designed to shield rectum was as high as 23%. Where the shields are not present, insignificant difference in the measured and computed dose values was noticed. CONCLUSIONS: The TPS may substantially overestimate the dose to the bladder and rectum, including regions that lie in the shadow of the solid angle subtended by the shields if it does not account for the presence of tungsten shields. (C) 2011 American Brachytherapy Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.