Dosimetric effects of matching 6MV photon and electron fields in the treatment of head and neck cancers

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the dosimetry across the junction between an enface 9MeV electron field and 6MV parallel opposing photon fields for two photon configurations: (1) laterally opposed divergent beam set-up and (2) laterally opposed half-beam (non-divergent) set-up using asymmetric collimator jaws. In this study, film dosimetry technique was performed to measure dose profiles at depths of 1, 2, and 3cm in the junction of the matching photon and electron fields. In order to investigate the changes in the dose distributions due to set-up uncertainties, dose profiles were measured at these depths using no gap, 2 and 4mm overlaps and gaps between the photon and electron fields. A 2mm gap resulted in approximately +15% and +20% hot spots in the photon field at 1 and 3cm depths, respectively, for divergent photon beams. However, at 2cm depth, an approximately +30% hot spot and -10% cold spot occurred in the junction region. Four millimeter overlap and gap resulted in an unacceptable dose inhomogeneity in the junction. As a result of this study, the magnitudes of hot and cold spots might be clinically acceptable for 2mm gap between photon and electron fields.