Novel solutions to the problems encountered in electron irradiation to thesurface of the head

A novel treatment for two patients with mycosis fungoides involving all or most of the skin surface of the head is described using large overlapping l ow energy electron beams. Shielding of previously treated and uninvolved ar eas was achieved by encapsulating cerrobend within a thermoplastic shell in one patient. In the other patient, GE Saturnes unique asymmetric electron field definition facility was used. Satisfactory dose uniformity was demons trated by the computation of dose distributions on the full summed electron pencil beam model on the Target Series 2 treatment planning system. Verifi cation of the calculated dose homogeneity was confirmed with lithium fluori de (TLD-100) thermoluminescent dosimetry. The relatively simple treatment s et-up was accomplished easily on a routine basis and was well tolerated by the patients, both of whom have been in complete remission since their trea tment.