Development and Dosimetric Characterization of a Customizable Shield for Subtotal Skin Electron Beam Therapy

PURPOSE: Purpose: Subtotal skin electron beam therapy may be an option for patients with cutaneous lymphoma receiving radiation therapy to treat large areas of their skin but may benefit from sparing specific areas that may have had previous radiation therapy, are of specific cosmetic concern, and/or show no evidence of disease. We report here on the design, implementation, and dosimetric characteristics of a reusable and transparent customizable shield for use with the large fields used to deliver total skin electron beam therapy at extended distance with a conventional linear accelerator. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A shield was designed and manufactured consisting of acrylic blocks that can be mounted on a steel frame to allow patient-specific shielding. The dosimetry of the device was measured using radiochromic film. RESULTS: The shield is easy to use and well-tolerated for patient treatment, providing minimal electron transmission through the shield with a sharp penumbra at the field edge, with no increase in x-ray dose. We report on the dosimetry of a commercial device that has been used to treat more than 30 patients to date. CONCLUSIONS: The customizable shield is well suited to providing patient-specific shielding for subtotal skin electron beam therapy.