Evaluation of intrafraction motion of the organs at risk in image-based brachytherapy of cervical cancer (original) (raw)
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Acta Oncologica, 2012
Background. Locally advanced cervical cancer is commonly treated with external radiation therapy combined with local brachytherapy. The brachytherapy is traditionally given based on standard dose planning with prescription of dose to point A. Dosimetric aspects when changing from former standard treatment to individualized treatment plans based on computed tomography (CT) images are here investigated. Material and methods. Brachytherapy data from 19 patients with a total of 72 individual treatment fractions were retrospectively reviewed. Standard library plans were analyzed with respect to doses to organs at risk (OARs), and the result was compared to corresponding delivered individualized plans. The theoretical potential of further optimization based on prescription to target volumes was investigated. The treatments were performed with a Fletcher applicator. Results. For standard treatment planning, the tolerance dose limits were exceeded in the bladder, rectum and sigmoid in 26%, 4% and 15% of the plans, respectively. This was observed most often for the smallest target volumes. The individualized planning of the delivered treatment gave the possibility of controlling the dose to critical organs to below certain limits. The dose was still prescribed to point A. An increase in target dose coverage was achieved when additional individual optimization was performed, while still keeping the dose to the OARs below predefi ned limits. Relatively low average target coverage, especially for the largest volumes was however seen. Conclusion. The individualized delivered treatment plans ensured that doses to OARs were within acceptable limits. This was not the case in 42% of the corresponding standard plans. Further optimized treatment plans were found to give an overall better dose coverage. In lack of MR capacity, it may be favorable to use CT for planning due to possible protection of OARs. The CT based target volumes were, however, not equivalent to the volumes described in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) based recommendations. Prescription and assessment of dose, when introducing such target volumes, should be evaluated and preferably compared to well known treatment regimens.
Reports of Practical Oncology & Radiotherapy, 2020
Aim: Dosimetic comparison of manual forward planning(MFP) with inverse planning(IP) for interstitial brachytherapy(ISBT) in cervical carcinoma. Background: Brachytherapy planning by MFP is more reliable but time-consuming method, whereas IP has been explored more often for its ease and rapidness. The superiority of either is yet to be established. Methodology: Two plans were created on data sets of 24 patients of cervical carcinoma who had undergone ISBT, one by MFP with uniform dwell times and another IP on BrachyVision 13.7 planning system with a dose prescription of 600 cGy. Isodose shaper was used for improving conformity & homogeneity. Dosimetric parameters for target and organs at risk (OARs) were recorded. Conformity index (COIN), dose homogeneity index (DHI), overdose index (OI), Coverage index (CI) and dose nonuniformity ratio (DNR) were calculated. Results: Mean high risk clinical target volume: 73.05(±20.7)cc, D90: 5.51 Gy vs. 5.6 Gy (p = 0.017), V100: 81.77 % vs. 83.74 % (p = 0.002), V150: 21.7 % vs. 24.93 % (p = 0.002), V200: 6.3 % vs. 6.4 % (p=0.75) for IP and MFP, respectively. CI: 0.81(IP) and 0.83(MFP) (p = 0.003); however, COIN was 0.79 for both plans. D2cc of OARs was statistically better with IP (bladder 54.7 % vs. 56.1 %, p = 0.03; rectum 63 % vs. 64.7 %, (p = 0.0008). Conclusion: Both MFP and IP are equally acceptable dosimetrically. With higher dose achieved to the target, for a similar OAR dose, MFP provides greater user flexibility of dwell positions within the target as well as better optimization. Isodose shaper may be carefully used for fine tuning. Larger sample sizes and clinical correlation will better answer the superiority of one over the other.
Optimum organ volume ranges for organs at risk dose in cervical cancer intracavitary brachytherapy
Journal of Contemporary Brachytherapy, 2016
Purpose: To analyze the optimum organ filling point for organs at risk (OARs) dose in cervical cancer high-doserate (HDR) brachytherapy. Material and methods: In a retrospective study, 32 locally advanced cervical cancer patients (97 insertions) who were treated with 3D conformal external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) and concurrent chemotherapy during 2010-2013 were included. Rotterdam HDR tandem-ovoid applicators were used and computed tomography (CT) scanning was performed after each insertion. The OARs delineation and GEC-ESTRO-based clinical target volumes (CTVs) contouring was followed by 3D forward planning. Then, dose volume histogram (DVH) parameters of organs were recorded and patients were classified based on their OARs volumes, as well as their inserted tandem length. Results: The absorbed dose to point A ranged between 6.5-7.5 Gy. D 0.1cm³ and D 2cm³ of the bladder significantly increased with the bladder volume enlargement (p value < 0.05). By increasing the bladder volume up to about 140 cm 3 , the rectum dose was also increased. For the cases with bladder volumes higher than 140 cm 3 , the rectum dose decreased. For bladder volumes lower than 75 cm 3 , the sigmoid dose decreased; however, for bladder volumes higher than 75 cm 3 , the sigmoid dose increased. The D 2cm³ of the bladder and rectum were higher for longer tandems than for shorter ones, respectively. The divergence of the obtained results for different tandem lengths became wider by the extension of the bladder volume. The rectum and sigmoid volume had a direct impact on increasing their D 0.1cm³ and D 2cm³ , as well as decreasing their D 10 , D 30 , and D 50. Conclusions: There is a relationship between the volumes of OARs and their received doses. Selecting a bladder with a volume of about 70 cm 3 or less proved to be better with regards to the dose to the bladder, rectum, and sigmoid.
Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Care
Purpose: Dosimetric analysis and effect of different definitions of prescription point “A” to OAR in high dose rate brachytherapy for cervical cancer. Methods and Materials: This retrospective comparative dosimetric study is based on the data of 25 patients with histologically proven cervical carcinoma treated with HDR (high-dose-rate) brachytherapy. Patients received 21 Gy in three fractions (7.0 Gy X three fractions) to point A (AMAN, revised Manchester definition). Further, the patients were replanned with the new point A (AABS) as per the American Brachytherapy Society/ICRU 89 which is defined on CT images. The data compiled was then compared with the data observed from point A (AMAN). Results: When AMAN normalization method was used, the mean dose to the bladder at 0.1cc, 1cc, 2cc and 5cc obtained was 1121.2±54.5, 1058.7±44.1, 875.0±38.6, 780.5±35.9, and 641.2±29.5 cGy respectively. Likewise, using the ICRU-89 point A (ABS) normalization method, the mean dose to 0.1 cc, 0.2 cc,...
International Journal of Cancer Therapy and Oncology, 2015
Purpose: To assess the dosimetry to organs at risk (OARs) in lithotomy position with a planned time-dose pattern obtained from supine position. Methods: The sample consists of thirty patients with carcinoma of the uterine cervix, Stage II and III. Patients often feel discomfort in supine position (S position) when compared to lithotomy position (M position) due to relaxation of pelvic floor muscles after the insertion of applicator (tandem and ovoids) or before delivery of the treatment. Each patient was imaged with orthogonal X-ray radiographs simultaneously in two positions, i.e. S position and M position. Dwell time and dwell position pattern obtained from the optimized plan in S position was used to generate plan in M position. Following dose reference points (point A, pelvic wall points, bladder points, rectal, anorectum (AR point) and rectosigmoid (RS point) points) were identified for analysis in S and M positions. The dosimetric data for reference points generated by the Brachyvision TPS was analyzed. Results: Pelvic wall points registered lower doses in M position when compared to S position. Mean doses for right pelvic wall point (RPW) and left pelvic wall point (LPW) were reduced by-10.02 % and-11.5% in M position, respectively. International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU) bladder point also registered lower doses in M position with a mean dose of-6.8%. Rectal point showed dose reduction by mean of-6.4%. AR and RS points showed an increased dose in M position by a mean of 16.5% and 10%, respectively. Conclusion: Current dosimetry procedure serves as a model with time-dose pattern planned for S position, but delivered in M position, without dose optimization. Prioritization of comfort and position can be considered in conjunction with optimization of dose.
International Journal of Medical Physics, Clinical Engineering and Radiation Oncology, 2018
Background: Treatment of Cervical cancer includes a combination of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) with intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT). ICBT helps to boost radiation dose to primary disease. Organs like rectum, bladder, sigmoid and small bowel lie close to the cervix region and these organs receive dose from EBRT as well as ICBT and we want to know the dose to these organ at risk (OAR). Materials & Methods: Dosimetric details of 174 ICBT applications done in 58 patients were retrospectively analysed. All patients received EBRT dose of 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions. All patients had ICBT, three sessions with 7 Gy prescribed to point A. Dosimetric data including dose to right and left point A and dose to OARs were recorded from Oncentra Planning System. Results: Mean dose to point A on right side was 6.89 Gy and left side was 6.91 Gy. Mean D2cc dose to rectum, bladder, sigmoid and small bowel was 3.5 Gy, 5.25 Gy, 4.75 Gy and 4.2 Gy respectively. Mean EQD2 dose combining EBRT and ICBT in point A was 78.7 Gy on right side and 79 Gy on left side. Mean EQD2 doses to D2cc of rectum, bladder, sigmoid and small bowel was 62 Gy, 74.4 Gy, 70.5 Gy and 66.5 Gy respectively. Conclusion: From the results of this dosimetric study it is evident that OARs like rectum, sigmoid, bladder & bowel are receiving only acceptable doses of radiation using point A prescribed CT based ICBT planning. Hence with regards to OAR doses, CT based ICBT planning with dose prescribed to point A is a feasible option.
Conventional two-dimensional (2D) treatment planning of intracavitary brachytherapy is still a common practice at the radiotherapy center. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the organ at risk (OAR) doses estimated based on International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU) reference-point in patients with cervical cancer treated with high-dose-rate (HDR) intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT). Between January 2010 and April 2014, 21 cervical cancer patients were treated with 42 fractions of brachytherapy using tandem and ovoids and underwent post-implant two-dimensional (2D) radiograph scans. HDR brachytherapy was delivered to a dose of 18 Gy in two fractions. Using the Oncentra brachytherapy treatment planning system (BTPS) software version 4.1 (Nucletron, Netherlands), the bladder and rectum points were retrospectively reconstructed based on 42 orthogonal radiographs datasets. The ICRU bladder and rectum point doses were recorded. As for results, the mean percentage dose of rectum and bladder for selected patients treated with intracavitary brachytherapy treatment (ICBT) were 47.27 and 75.59%, respectively. Combinations of ovoid’s size, length of tandem and anatomy variation between each patient were factors that affected the dose to the OAR. Therefore, the ICRU reference points can still be used with the 2D brachytherapy treatment planning in evaluating the OAR doses. Keywords: International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU) reference points; intracavitary brachytherapy treatment (ICBT); organ at risk (OAR) doses; two-dimensional (2D) treatment planning
Journal of Contemporary Brachytherapy, 2021
Purpose: To evaluate feasibility and safety of execution of optimized intra-cavitary brachytherapy (ICBT) plan of first fraction in subsequent fractions in high-volume, low-resource centers. Material and methods: This non-randomized prospective study included 30 cervical cancer patients, who underwent 4 fractions of high-dose-rate (HDR)-ICBT in 2 applications, one week apart, 2 fractions per application delivered on two consecutive days. Computed tomography (CT) simulation was done before each fraction, organs at risk (OARs) were contoured on all sets of CT images. Optimized plans were generated for each set of CT images and executed for the treatment. Test treatment plans were retrospectively generated by applying first treatment fraction's dwell times adjusted for decay, and dwell positions of the applicator for subsequent treatment fractions paired t-test was performed to analyze D 2cc dose variations of OARs among the paired sets of plans. Results: Comparison between the plans showed daily plans provided lower D 2cc to OARs than test plans. In intraapplication plan comparison, there was a significant dose reduction to 2 cc sigmoid (p = 0.021) and bladder (p = 0.007) in daily plan. Mean D 2cc of optimized and unoptimized plans were 361.35 ±114.01 and 411.70 ±152.73 for sigmoid, and 511.23 ±85.47 cGy and 553.57 ±111.23 cGy for bladder, respectively. In inter-application, D 2cc rectum and sigmoid demonstrated a statistically significant dose variation (p = 0.002) and (p = 0.007), with mean D 2cc rectum of optimized and unoptimized plans being 401.06 ±83.53 cGy and 452.46 ±123.97 cGy, and of 2 cc sigmoid 340.84 ±117.90 cGy and 387.79 ±141.36 cGy, respectively. Conclusions: Fractionated HDR brachytherapy amounts to significant variation in OAR doses if re-simulation and re-plan is not performed for every fraction and ICBT application. Therefore, plan of the day with optimization of the doses to target and OARs must be followed for each fraction.
2015
Conventional two-dimensional (2D) treatment planning of intracavitary brachytherapy is still a common practice at the radiotherapy center. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the organ at risk (OAR) doses estimated based on International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU) reference-point in patients with cervical cancer treated with high-dose-rate (HDR) intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT). Between January 2010 and April 2014, 21 cervical cancer patients were treated with 42 fractions of brachytherapy using tandem and ovoids and underwent post-implant two-dimensional (2D) radiograph scans. HDR brachytherapy was delivered to a dose of 18 Gy in two fractions. Using the Oncentra brachytherapy treatment planning system (BTPS) software version 4.1 (Nucletron, Netherlands), the bladder and rectum points were retrospectively reconstructed based on 42 orthogonal radiographs datasets. The ICRU bladder and rectum point doses were recorded. As for results, the mean perce...