Dosimetry analysis of homemade bolus using propylene glycol for photon MegaVoltage and electron radiation therapy

Abstract

Abstract Bolus is widely used to protect and reduce irradiation in organ at risk in the process of radiotherapy. Generally, the bolus was made from polymer material due to had property is similar or equivalent to tissue. This study aimed to determine the density, transmission factor, effective mass attenuation coefficient on bolus with radiation of photons and electrons. The bolus material (B) was used Propylene Glycol (PG), Silicon Rubber (SR) and Aluminium Powder (Al), and had four types of bolus namely B - PG 24%, B - PG 24%; SR 8%, B - PG 24%; SR 8%; Al 0,5%, and B - PG 24%; SR 8%; Al 1,5% with dimensions of 11 × 11 cm and thickness of 1 and 1.5 cm. The bolus density is evaluated through the mass of each volume. The measured data revealed that all of the boluses have density values which are similar to tissue or water and air in the range from 0,864 - 1,202 g/cm3. For dosimetry testing, the bolus is irradiated using Linear Accelerator with 6 and 10 MV for photon source and 6 and 12 MeV for an electron source. The results showed that B - PG 24%; SR 8%; Al 1.5% for dosimetry testing both 6 and 10 MV photons obtained properties that resemble soft tissue. Meanwhile, for both dosimetry testing of 12 MeV electrons, the B - PG 24%; SR 8% with addition silicone rubber and aluminum have nature closest to soft tissue. All of the boluses that have been fabricated have properties similar to soft tissue for photon therapy whereas the addition of more aluminum making a bolus has features as a shield on the process of radiotherapy.