Fabrication of Breast Cancer Phantom for the Estimation of Radiation Dose in Breast Cancer Radiotherapy

Abstract

A Gel-based breast tumor phantom was fabricated to estimate radiation dose in breast cancer radiotherapy. The materials used have similar properties to real tumor tissues. Vegetable oil was used as a source of fats and lipids in the Phantom, while Gelatinwas used as a source of protein to make equivalent breast tumor tissues. NaCl was added to increase the Phantom's conductivity. Different characterization techniques were used to analyze the equivalency of tumor phantom with real breast tumor tissues. The bonding characteristic in FTIR spectra shows different organic compositions in the Phantom. X- ray diffraction was used for structural properties to find crystalline structure in the Phantom. It shows the highest crystalline structure peak at [200] planes due to the presence of NaCl. The swelling test helped to swell the tumor phantom with the right water content equivalent to real tumor tissues. The swelling ratiowas increased until 35 minutes later, and the sample started to degrade. Degradation was used to check the life span of a phantom. 40 Gy of Radiation dose was given to the tumor phantom, which led to the breakage of ester bonds in the Phantom, similar to the breakage of phospholipids in the cell membrane of breast tumor cells after the radiation was given.