Shielding effect of a lead apron on the peripheral radiation dose outside the applicator of electron beams from an Elekta linear accelerator

PURPOSE: To evaluate the shielding effect of lead aprons (LAs) on peripheral radiation doses outside the applicator of electron beams from a linear accelerator. METHODS: Out‐of‐field radiation doses of 4‐, 6‐, 8‐, 10‐, 12‐, and 15‐MeV electron beams from an Elekta Synergy linear accelerator (linac) were measured by thermoluminescence dosimeters (TLD) at different depths (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 cm) and distances from the applicator edge (0–58 cm) in a water‐equivalent slab phantom with a different number of layers of LA shielding (0–5 layers). Measurements were performed by 6 × 6, 10 × 10, 14 × 14, and 20 × 20‐cm(2) applicators at a gantry and collimator angle of 0°. The out‐of‐field radiation dose profiles were normalized to the maximum dose of every energy and measuring depth. RESULTS: The out‐of‐field radiation doses (beyond 3 cm away from the field edge) decreased with an increase in the number of LA layers and distance away from the central beam axis (CAX). After shielding with the LA, the out‐of‐field doses decreased by up to approximately 99% compared with the no shielding group. For 4‐MeV electron beams, there was a peak at 24.5 cm from the CAX, which weakened with an increasing number of LA layers. CONCLUSION: The shielding effect of the LA varied for a different number of LA layers as well as different depths and distances away from the CAX. Four LA layers were sufficient for shielding out‐of‐field doses of 4–15‐MeV electron beams.