Cobalt-60 Source Loading: Necessity of A Rigid Protocol

Abstract

Aim: To look if calculating the gantry angle position helps in source loading. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in Advanced Cancer Diagnostic, Treatment and research Centre- Bathinda, India at the time of source loading in the Bhabhatron – II TAW teletherapy unit. There is no rigid protocol for calculating the angle in which source loading needs to be done. The study looks at various gantry angle positions in which source loading was attempted and failed and describes how to calculate the position in which source loading needs to be done; based on which successful loading was done. Result: Calculating the gantry angle position helps reduce source loading errors. Conclusion: By following a rigid protocol, the number of trials undertaken for the cobalt-60 source loading could be reduced, thus limiting the radiation exposure to all involved.