Date of Award
Fall 11-18-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Publication Status
Version of Record
Submission Date
December 2025
Department
Physics
College Granting Degree
Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Degree Name
Professional Science Masters (PSM)
Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]
Andreas Kyriacou
Abstract
External Beam Electron Therapy is frequently used to treat facial cancers. Wax and lead shields protect the eye lens and adjacent structures, reducing long term-complications and exposure to healthy tissues. Although these materials attenuate radiation behind the shielding, their impact on surface dose to nearby tissue requires further investigation.
This project evaluated how shielding materials influence surface dose to facial structures using MOSFET detectors on a paraffin wax phantom developed from a patient’s Dot Decimal compensator. Relative surface doses were compared for 6MeV and 9MeV electron beams under varying wax and lead shielding configurations. Results indicate that while wax and lead eye shields reduce dose to the eye, they can increase dose to the ala. Gamma putty nose plugs increased the dose up to 91% to the anterior nostril and reduced dose to the posterior nostril by 87% as compared to no shielding.
Recommended Citation
Abiri, Emma, "ASSESSING THE ROLE OF LEAD AND WAX SHIELDING IN ELECTRON BEAM DOSE TO FACIAL TISSUE" (2025). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 170.
https://digitalcommons.fau.edu/etd_general/170