Impact of the Tiloop Bra mesh in CT images and dose delivery in breast radiotherapy

A new titanized breast mesh, TiLOOP Bra, is currently available for implantation in patients who require radiotherapy. The purpose of this work is to study the dosimetric effect of the presence of a TiLOOP Bra mesh on breast radiation treatment and radiographic imaging. The dosimetric effects have been measured for three X‐ray energies: 1.25 MeV, 6 MV and 18 MV, using radiochromic films placed at three different depths. These depths are representative of mesh location in breast during the radiotherapy treatment and hence, are of interest in this study. In order to assess the disturbance in a radiographic image, different computed tomographic (CT) studies of the mesh have been performed. The absorbed dose differences with and without the mesh are less than 1%. No metallic artifacts have been observed in radiographic images associated with the mesh, nor significant disturbances in Hounsfield Units. The TiLOOP Bra mesh does not disturb the dosimetry of a typical radiotherapy treatment and its influence in the quality of the CT scan required for planning is negligible. PACS number: 87.55.‐x