Unique approaches for testicular shielding during total‐body irradiation for pediatric patients. Issue 1 (10th November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Agarwal, Mohit Shiv; Kelly, Kathryn Bales; Papanikolaou, Panos; Kirby, Neil; Ha, Chul Soo
• Is Part Of: Journal of applied clinical medical physics. Volume 24:Issue 1(2023)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-11-10
• Subjects: gonadal shielding -- pediatric -- testicular shielding -- Total‐body irradiation (TBI); Medical physics -- Periodicals; Clinical medicine -- Periodicals; Health Physics; Clinical Medicine; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Periodicals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; 610.153
• DOI: 10.1002/acm2.13842
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1526-9914

Abstract

Abstract: Total‐body irradiation (TBI) has been used as a part of the conditioning regimen for patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for certain nonmalignant conditions such as sickle cell disease. Although effective, TBI can cause lasting side effects for pediatric patients. One of these potential side effects includes oligospermia or even permanent azoospermia. Although many investigators have studied ways to shield the testicles during the TBI for nonmalignant conditions, there is no set standard. We describe the technical aspects of effective techniques to shield the testicles of male pediatric patients undergoing TBI. We verified that our techniques reduced the testicular dose by approximately 80%–85% of the TBI prescription dose in four male pediatric patients, keeping the dose well below the documented doses that can cause permanent infertility and hypogonadism.