In this report, we quantify the divergence from the inverse square law (ISL) of the beam output as a function of distance (standoff) from closed-ended applicators for a modern clinical orthovoltage unit. The divergence is clinically significant exceeding 3% at a 1.2 cm distance for 4 × 4 and 10 × 10 cm2 closed-ended applicators. For all investigated cases, the measured dose falloff is more rapi...

PURPOSE Megavoltage photon beams are typically used for therapy because of their skin-sparing effect. However, a focused low-energy x-ray beam would also be skin sparing, and would have a higher dose concentration at the focal spot. Such a beam can be produced with polycapillary optics. MCNP5 was used to model dose profiles for a scanned focused beam, using measured beam parameters. The potenti...

The importance of dosimetry protocols and standards for radiobiological studies is self-evident. Several have been proposed dose determination using low energy X-ray facilities, but depending on the irradiation configurations, samples, materials or beam quality, it sometimes difficult to know which protocol most appropriate employ. We, therefore, propose a cell irradiations facility. aim this m...

Kilovoltage (kV) radiotherapy, also called superficial radiotherapy (SXT) or orthovoltage (DXT), is a well-known and effective treatment option for non-melanoma skin cancer some benign musculoskeletal conditions. Given its surface dose delivery, use in radiation oncology beyond cancers generally limited, but it has been shown to be extremely useful specific palliative applications. Here, we des...

BACKGROUND We explore the use of a clinical orthovoltage X-ray treatment unit as a small-animal radiation therapy system in a tumoral model of cervical cancer. METHODS Nude mice were subcutaneously inoculated with 5 x 106 HeLa cells in both lower limbs. When tumor volume approximated 200 mm3 treatment was initiated. Animals received four 2 mg/kg intraperitoneal cycles (1/week) of cisplatin an...