Dosimetry considerations for a Lipowitz metal tissue compensator system.

The present report describes the fabrication technique and the dosimetry aspects of a new compensator system that uses the low melting point allow Lipowitz metal. Compensating ratios (CR, mm of tissue compensated per mm of cerrobend) were determined for various field sizes and depths for 60Co, and X ray energies of 4, 6, 18, and 25 MV. Typical CR for 10 cm X 10 cm field and 10 cm depth were: 60Co, 4 MV, and 6 MV, 1:15; 18 and 25 MV, 1:20. Verification of these CR were performed at 6 MV using polystyrene phantoms. Ionization measurements were made for various field sizes and depths and normalized to central axis full-phantom readings for both compensated and non-compensated fields. Without compensation, percent differences ranged as high as 40% for a tissue deficit of 10 cm. With the compensating filters (CF) in place, this difference was reduced to 2-4%. Overall, the CF system was capable of producing dose uniformity to within +/- 10% for a wide range of depths and field sizes.