Measurement of the contralateral breast photon and neutron dose in breast cancer radiotherapy: A Monte Carlo study

Introduction: This study aimed to calculate the photon and neutron doses received to the contralateral breast (CB) during breast cancer radiotherapy for various field sizes in the presence of a physical wedge. Materials and Methods: Varian 2100 C/D linear accelerator was simulated using a MCNP4C Monte Carlo code. Then, a phantom of real female chest was simulated and the treatment planning was carried out on tumoral breast (left breast). Finally, the received photon and neutron doses to CB (right breast) were calculated in the presence of a physical wedge for 18 MV photon beam energy. These calculations were performed for different field sizes including 11 cm x 13 cm, 11 cm x 17 cm, and 11 cm x 21 cm. Results: The findings showed that the received doses (both of the photon and neutron) to CB in the presence of a physical wedge for 11 cm x 13 cm, 11 cm x 17 cm, and 11 cm x 21 cm field sizes were 9.87%, 12.91%, and 27.37% of the prescribed dose, respectively. In addition, the results showed that the received photon and neutron doses to CB increased with increment in the field size. Conclusion: From the results of this study, it is concluded that the received photon and neutron doses to CB in the presence of a physical wedge is relatively more, and therefore, they should be reduced to as low as possible. Therefore, using a dynamic wedge instead of a physical wedge or field-in-field technique is suggested.