Preliminary Study for Dosimetric Characteristics of 3D-printed Materials with Megavoltage Photons

TL;DR

This study evaluates the dosimetric properties of 3D-printed materials with varying densities for potential use in radiation therapy, demonstrating their suitability for accurate dose delivery in clinical applications.

Contribution

It provides initial data on the dose characteristics of 3D-printed materials, supporting their potential use as compensators or immobilizers in radiation therapy.

Findings

Dose measurements for 50% and 75% density cubes closely matched TPS calculations.

HU values varied with density, indicating different material properties.

3D-printed materials showed promise for accurate dose modulation in radiotherapy.

Abstract

In these days, 3D-printer is on the rise in various fields including radiation therapy. This preliminary study aimed to estimate the dose characteristics of the 3D-printer materials which could be used as the compensator or immobilizer in radiation treatment. The cubes which have 5cm length and different densities as 50%, 75% and 100% were printed by 3D-printer. A planning CT scans for cubes were performed using a CT simulator (Brilliance CT, Philips Medical System, Netherlands). Dose distributions behind the cube were calculated when 6MV photon beam passed through cube. The dose response for 3D-printed cube, air and water were measured by using EBT3 film and 2D array detector. When results of air case were normalized to 100, dose calculated by TPS and measured dose of 50% and 75% cube were 96~99. Measured and calculated doses of water and 100% cube were 82~84. HU values of 50%, 75% and 100% were -910, -860 and -10, respectively. From these results, 3D-printer in radiotherapy could be used for medical purpose accurately.