AbstractID: 7410 Title: Evaluation of Patients Treated with Custom Tissue Compensators and Physical
Wedges
Twenty-five patients were treated to the intact breast with opposing tangential beams using CT based 3-D treatment plans. Each was
treated for part of the course of therapy with physical wedges and part with custom milled tissue compensators. Breast dose uniformity
for wedges versus custom compensators were compared using Dose Volume Histograms (DVH). Patient diode and TLD skin
measurements were made to compare the dose uniformity of the wedge versus compensator method. Five locations were specified as
points of measurement: 2.5cm in from the superior and medial field borders, 4 cm in from the superior and lateral field borders, the
central axis, inframammary fold, and the contralateral breast. From the DVH’s the compensator plans were found to give a more
homogenous dose to the treated breast. The TLDs and diodes showed a uniform dose was delivered to all locations except the
inframammary fold by both the wedge and compensator methods. Compensators reduced the average inframammary fold dose by 20
cGy per fraction when compared to physical wedges. Clinically, this is the area where breast skin dose reactions occur from standard
wedge treatments. Contralateral breast dose was the same for both methods.