Dosimetric Effects of Thermoplastic Immobilizing Devices on Surface Dose

Abstract

Thermoplastic immobilizing masks have dosimetric effects on the patient’s skin dose. The thermoplastic percentage depth dose (PDD), equivalent thickness of water for the masks and surface doses were determined. The surface dose factors due to the thermoplastic mask was found to be 1.7949, 1.9456, 2.0563, 2.1967, 2.3827, 2.5459 and 2.6565 for field sizes of 5 × 5, 8 × 8, 10 × 10, 12 × 12, 15 × 15, 18 × 18 and 20 × 20 cm2 respectively which shifted the percentage depth dose curve to lower values. The physical thermoplastic thickness was measured to be between 2.30 and 1.80 mm, and the equivalent thicknesses of water, de, were determined to be between 1.2 and 1.00 mm. This meant that, as the mask thickness decreased, its water equivalent thickness also decreased. The presence of the mask material increased the skin dose to a factor of 1%. The thermoplastic mask factor was also found to be 0.99.