Dose modification factors for 192Ir high-dose-rate irradiation using Monte Carlo simulation.

A recently introduced brachytherapy system for partial breast irradiation, MammoSite, consists of a balloon applicator filled with contrast solution and a catheter for insertion of an 192Ir high-dose-rate (HDR) source. In using this system, the treatment dose is typically prescribed to be delivered 1 cm from the balloon's surface. Most treatment-planning systems currently in use for brachytherapy procedures use water-based dosimetry with no correction for heterogeneity.

Resrad-recycle: a computer model for analyzing radiation exposures resulting from recycling radioactively contaminated scrap metals or reusing radioactively surface-contaminated materials and equipment.

RESRAD-RECYCLE is a computer code designed by Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) to be used in making decisions about the disposition of radioactively contaminated materials and scrap metals. It implements a pathway analysis methodology to evaluate potential radiation exposures resulting from the recycling of contaminated scrap metals and the reuse of surface-contaminated materials and equipment. For modeling purposes, it divides the entire metal recycling process into six steps: (1) scrap delivery, (2) scrap melting, (3) ingot delivery, (4) product fabrication, (5) product distribution, and (6) use of finished product.

Contrast effects on dosimetry of a partial breast irradiation system.

MammoSite is a high-dose rate brachytherapy procedure for partial breast irradiation, which uses a balloon filled with radiopaque iodine-based contrast solution and catheter for insertion of 192Ir high-dose-rate source. The radiopaque material helps visualizing the balloon contour, catheter, and source position within the balloon, which is essential for computerized tomography-based treatment planning and for daily QA using x-ray radiographs. Because of the high content of iodine in contrast media, increased absorption and attenuation of photons may take place within the balloon, which would affect the resultant dose rates outside the balloon.