Changes in photon dose distributions due to breast prostheses

Journal Article · Mon Feb 15 00:00:00 EST 1993 · International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0360-3016(93)90078-A· OSTI ID:6551969

Klein, E E ^[1]; Kuske, R R ^[2]

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1. Washington Univ. School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO (United States)
2. Ochsner Clinic, New Orleans, LA (United States)

Subcutaneous prosthetic implants have been routinely used for cosmetic augmentation and for tissue replacement following mastectomy over the last 15 years. The implants come in many forms as the gel filler material and surrounding shell material(s) vary significantly. This study uses a thin window parallel-plate chamber and thermoluminescent dosimeters to quantify any dosimetric changes to surrounding breast tissue due to the presence of the prosthesis. A mammographic phantom was compared to four commercial prostheses, namely two silicon gel fillers within two different shells (silicon or silicon/polyurethane), a tri-glyceride within silicon and a bio-oncotic gel within silicon and a bio-oncotic gel within silicon/polyurethane. The latter two implants were designed with a low-Z fill for diagnostic imaging benefits. Ion chamber results indicate no significant alteration of depth doses away from the implant with only minor canceling (parallel opposed) interface perturbations for all implants. In addition the physical changes to the irradiated prostheses were quantified by tonometry testing and qualified by color change. Each implant exhibited color change following 50 Gy, and the bio-oncotic gel became significantly less formable following irradiation, and even less formable 6 weeks postirradiation. The data indicates that prostheses do not affect the photon beam distribution, but radiation does affect the prosthesis. 9 refs., 10 figs., 5 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6551969
• Journal Information: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics; (United States), Vol. 25:3; ISSN 0360-3016
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ANIMAL TISSUES
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
PHOTON BEAMS
DEPTH DOSE DISTRIBUTIONS
PROSTHESES
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
MAMMARY GLANDS
RADIOTHERAPY
BEAMS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
GLANDS
MEDICAL SUPPLIES
MEDICINE
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
RADIATION DOSE DISTRIBUTIONS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOLOGY
SPATIAL DOSE DISTRIBUTIONS
THERAPY
TISSUES
560101* - Biomedical Sciences
Applied Studies- Radiation Effects- Dosimetry & Monitoring- (1992-)
560151 - Radiation Effects on Animals- Man
360605 - Materials- Radiation Effects