Technical and dosimetric description of a hard-docking applicator system for intraoperative radiotherapy with electron beams in a non-dedicated accelerator

Our experience with a hard-docking applicator system for intraoperative electron-beam radiotherapy is described. In the introduction, we review the configuration options of the applicator systems. In the following section, the applicator system us ed and the methods of measurement are described. The dosimetric characterization, some problems related to the system and the solutions we adopted are shown in results. Finally, the dosimetric behavior is discussed developing a consistent theoretical explanation. (Author)