Program Information
Mobile Shield to Treat Pregnant Patients in Radiation Oncology
V Narayana1,2*, P Wang1 , P McLaughlin1,2 , (1) Providence Cancer Center, Southfield, MI, (2) University of Michigan, Southfield, MI
Presentations
PO-BPC-Exhibit Hall-25 (Saturday, March 7, 2015) Room: Exhibit Hall
Purpose:To design a fetal shield to treat a pregnant patient’s brain using IMRT while protecting the fetus from radiation exposure.
Methods:A simple mobile shield was designed to encase the fetus in a lead cage. The cage was designed so that the weight of the lead was borne on the floor with no extra weight on the couch. The shield was on wheels and could be easily moved over the patient once the patient lay on the table. Standard lead bricks were stacked on the shield’s frame to prevent head and leakage scatter from reaching the fetus. Lead bricks lined the right, left, anterior and superior of the patient’s pelvic area. The treatment plan used for the patient was delivered to a Rando phantom and the reduction in dose to a point estimated to be the umbilicus of the fetus was estimated using TLD. On the first day of treatment, TLDs were placed at the fundus, umbilicus and pubis of the patient. Subsequent fractions were delivered with the shield in place.
Results:TLD measurements were made using a Rando phantom at 48 cm from the closest jaw edge with and without shielding. Rando measurements indicated a 56% reduction in dose with shielding. TLD measurements made during treatment with shielding at the fundus, umbilicus and pubis at 37 cm, 48 cm, 66 cm from the closest jaw edge indicated a dose of 2.7cGy, 1.4 cGy and 1.1 cGy, respectively over the entire course of treatment.
Conclusion:The head leakage contribution from treatment was adequately reduced to deliver an effective IMRT treatment to the patient while protecting the fetus from radiation exposure.
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