Matching electron beams without secondary collimation for treatment of extensive recurrent chest-wall carcinoma.

Matching electron beams without secondary collimators (applicators) were used for treatment of extensive, recurrent chest-wall carcinoma. Due to the wide penumbra of such beams, the homogeneity of the dose distribution at and around the junction point is clinically acceptable and relatively insensitive to positional errors. Specifically, dose around the junction point is homogeneous to within +/- 4% as calculated from beam profiles, while the positional error of 1 cm leaves this number essentially unchanged.

Evaluation of electron-beam uniformity during commissioning of a linear accelerator.

Electron-beam profiles measured during acceptance testing and commissioning of a linear accelerator were analyzed according to manufacturer's specifications and more stringent AAPM TG-25 recommendations. The difference between specifications of the AAPM report and those experienced commercially is discussed. Although all the electron beams met the manufacturer's specifications, the uniformity parameters for some of them were outside the limits suggested by the AAPM report.

Total-skin electron irradiation for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma: the Northern Israel Oncology Center experience.

Total-skin electron irradiation (TSEI) is effective and frequently used in the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. A treatment technique has been developed at our center, using the Philips SL 75/10 linear accelerator. In our method, the patient is irradiated in a recumbent position by five pairs of uncollimated electron beams at a source to skin distance of 150 cm.