Development and Validation of Patient-Specific 3D-Printed Electron Applicators for Precision Radiotherapy 📝

Author: Md. Jobairul Islam 👨‍🔬

Affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Labaid Cancer Hospital and Super Speciality Centre 🌍

Abstract:

Purpose: Electron radiotherapy is an effective treatment for superficial tumors but requires field-shaping devices like electron applicators, which are labor-intensive to produce. This study aimed to develop and validate an inexpensive 3D-printed end-term electron applicator to improve treatment precision and accessibility.
Methods: Electron applicators were designed by converting DICOM data to STL format for 3D printing. ABS and metal-filled PLA filaments were used to print applicators with diameters of 1 cm, 2 cm, 3 cm, and 4 cm using a German RepRap 3D printer. Ionization chamber measurements were taken at the surface and at a source-to-surface distance (SSD) of 95 cm for electron beam energies of 6 MeV, 8 MeV, 10 MeV, 12 MeV, and 15 MeV. Measurements were first conducted without additional build-up slabs and then repeated with two slabs of each material as per protocol.
Results: Measurements at 6 MeV using 3D-printed applicators showed surface dose leakage of 0.01 Gy for plastic filament and 0.09 Gy for metal filament. The 3D-printed applicators performed effectively for lower electron energies, making them suitable for treating surface-based skin cancers. Minor design adjustments can reduce radiation leakage at higher energies.
Conclusion: The study successfully developed and validated a 3D-printed end-term electron applicator for electron radiotherapy. The customized applicators demonstrated effectiveness for small lesion treatments, particularly at lower electron energies. This low-cost, adaptable approach offers significant potential for improving radiotherapy precision in resource-limited settings. Further optimization of the applicator design could enhance its performance for higher-energy electron beams, ensuring broader clinical applicability.

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