Whole-skin electron treatment: patient skin dose distribution.

Low-energy electron irradiation of the whole skin is used to treat skin diseases such as mycosis fungoides. The literature on the related dosimetry concentrates almost exclusively on idealized conditions, such as the "in-air" distribution of radiation and the dose received by body-shaped phantoms. The results of a detailed study of dose to five patients, using measurements from thermoluminescent dosimeters, are reported. The dose to different points on the trunk was fairly uniform, while there were significant deviations from uniformity for the arms, legs, and head. The data show that in-air measurements are of limited value as a measure of the uniformity of the dose received by the patient.