The added bolus for total body irradiation using lead plate

In performing total body irradiation, the problem is uneven dosage delivered to different parts of the body which greatly vary in width. In our experiment, an added bolus made of lead plate was used to prevent excessive doses to be delivered to the head, neck and lung which are narrower than the abdomen and pelvis, and therefore, are likely to be exposed to excessive radiation in total body irradiation. Our study revealed the dosage delivered to the head, neck and lung could be markedly decreased by using an added bolus. (author)