[Photon field junction for external beam radiotherapy of breast cancer involving axillary and supraclavicular lymph nodes].

Abstract

We present evaluation of junction of coplanar external beam photon fields and its portal dosimetric analysis for breast cancer with positive lymph nodes. In our work, we compared twelve patients affected by breast cancer with axillary and supraclavicular lymph nodes, using conformal external beam plans from a dosimetric point of view. 3-3 plans were prepared per patient. Three methods were used for the conformal technique to investigate the potential of lymph nodes treatment field's collimations. During the evaluation of the portal dosimetry images, it was concluded that the junction plane at isocenter appeared as a discrete coldline, when fitted the regional field with or without collimation manually and by the software. However, the coverage of the isocenter plane is strongly influenced by the linear accelerator and the fitted field edges. Based on our results, in order to avoid uncertainties arising from field junctions and the overdosed areas of the target volume, it is more appropriate to choose another advanced irradiation technique such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy.