TH‐AB‐201‐03: Characterization of Electron Beam Out‐Of‐Field Doses and Neutron Contamination from Modern Varian and Elekta Linear Accelerators

Abstract

Purpose:To investigate out‐of‐field electron doses and neutron production from electron beams from modern Varian and Elekta linear accelerators.Methods:Electron dose measurements were made using 10×10cm2 applicators on two Varian 21iXs, a Varian TrueBeam, and an Elekta Versa HD operating at energies from 6 to 20 MeV. Out‐of‐field dose profiles and PDD curves were measured in a Wellhofer water phantom using a Farmer chamber. Neutron measurements were made with a combination of moderator buckets and gold activation‐foils placed on the treatment couch at various locations in the patient plane on both the 21iX and Versa HD linear accelerators.Results:Electron doses were highest for the highest electron energies. Dose profile curves for the Varian units were found to be lower than those from the Versa HD unit, and were lower than photon beams. Elekta's dose profiles were higher and exhibited a second dose peak around 20–30 cm from central‐axis. Electron doses in this region (0.8–1.3% of dmax at central‐axis) were close to 5 times (2.5–4.8) greater than doses from photon beams with similar energies. Electron doses decreased sharply with depth before becoming nearly constant; the dose was found to decrease to a depth of approximately E(MeV)/4 in cm. Q‐values and neutron dose equivalent increased with energy and were typically higher on central‐axis. 18 MV photon beam neutron dose equivalents were greater than any electron beam, being approximately 40 times greater than for the 20 MeV electron beam (21iX).Conclusion:The Versa HD exhibited higher than expected out‐of‐field electron doses in comparison to typical radiotherapy photon beams. Fortunately, out‐of‐field electron doses can be substantially reduced by applying a water‐equivalent bolus with thickness of E(MeV)/4 in cm. Neutron contamination from clinical electron beams can be considered negligible in relation to photon beams but may need to be considered for special cases.This work was supported by Public Health Service Grant CA180803 awarded by the National Cancer Institute, United States Department of Health and Human Services.