Cranial irradiation in acute leukemia: Dose estimate in the lens

Robert W. Kline, Michael T. Gillin, Larry E. Kun

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cranial irradiation for subclinical arachnoid infiltration is standard treatment in childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia. The incidental dose received by the ocular lens is of potential importance since these children evidence a significant long-term survival rate. Comparison of the lens dose using 6 MV and 4 MV photon beams and a cobalt unit is presented in terms of ion chamber measurements in a water phantom and thermo-luminescent dosimetry (TLD) measurements in a head phantom. TLD measurements on patients treated for acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) are examined and used to estimate the dose to the lens. It is demonstrated that the dose to the lens depends strongly on the choice of field margin and on the daily patient set-up. However, using parallel opposed beams in a clinically determined optimal set-up, the dose to the lens is approximately 20-30% of the midline central axis dose. By angling the treatment head to eliminate the geometrical divergence of the beam, it is possible to reduce the lens dose to approximately 15% of the midline dose.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)117-121
Number of pages5
JournalInternational journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics
Volume5
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1979

Keywords

  • Acute lymphocytic leukemia
  • Cranial irradiation
  • Ocular lens dose

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiation
  • Oncology
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
  • Cancer Research

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