@Article{Slessinger2011,
journal="Journal of Contemporary Brachytherapy",
issn="1689-832X",
volume="3",
number="4",
year="2011",
title="Dose perturbation study in a multichannel breast brachytherapy device",
abstract="  Purpose  : A study was conducted to determine the dosimetric effects resulting from air pockets and high atomic number (Z) contrast medium within a multichannel breast brachytherapy device.      Material and methods  : A 5-6 cm diameter Contura (SenoRx) brachytherapy device was inflated using 37 cm 3  of saline. Baseline dose falloff from an HDR Iridium-192 source was measured with the Iridium source centered in the central channel and an anterior off-center channel. Data were collected at distances from 1 to 50 mm. Comparison studies were conducted with identically inflated volume containing varied air pocket volumes (1-4 cm 3 ) and concentrations of contrast solution (3%, 6%, and 9% by volume). Dose perturbation factors (DPF) were computed and evaluated.      Results  : Dose perturbations due to air pockets and contrast solutions were observed. As the volume of air increased, the DPF increased by approximately 2.25%/cm 3 . The effect was consistent for both channels. The contrast effects were more complex. The 3% contrast media had minimal dose perturbation. The 6% contrast solution caused dose reduction of 1.0% from the central channel but 1.5% dose increase from the anterior channel. The 9% contrast solution caused dose reductions by 4.0% (from central channel) and 3.0% (from anterior channel). The DPF from all contrast solutions mode­rated with increasing distance.      Conclusions  : Dose perturbations due to air pockets and high-Z contrast solution can be significant. It is important to control these effects to avoid dose errors.",
author="Slessinger, Eric D.
and Fletcher, Rodney
and Das, Indra J.",
pages="220--223",
doi="10.5114/jcb.2011.26473",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.5114/jcb.2011.26473"
}