Practical considerations for prostate HDR brachytherapy. 2010

Eric D Slessinger
Department of Radiation Oncology, IU Simon Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. edslessi@iupui.edu

OBJECTIVE A process for prostate high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy was developed and implemented successfully in the community hospital setting. The practical aspects of the program are reviewed and may serve as a foundation for clinics interested in offering this clinical service. METHODS A generic needle distribution geometry was established to accommodate target volumes of variable size. A system to identify and assign treatment channels to each implant needle was devised. The computerized tomography (CT)-based treatment planning was used with dose constraints defined for sensitive structures and target uniformity. Implant needle stability was promoted by supporting the patient on a CT compatible padded sliding board. A process that aligns dwell position to CT imaging without the use of radiographic markers was followed. Graphical optimization of dwell times was used to generate the treatment dose distributions. RESULTS Prostate HDR brachytherapy as a boost or as monotherapy has been offered in a program that has evolved over the past 8 years. Practical aspects of the program promote its feasibility and precision. Collaboration with commercial entities has also led to the development of products that support the technique. CONCLUSIONS Prostate HDR brachytherapy offers a relatively high degree of dose distribution control in comparison with other prostate radiotherapy modalities. The practical aspects described offer assurance to achieve that goal.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D009339 Needles Sharp instruments used for puncturing or suturing. Hypodermic Needles,Hypodermic Needle,Needle,Needle, Hypodermic,Needles, Hypodermic
D011471 Prostatic Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the PROSTATE. Cancer of Prostate,Prostate Cancer,Cancer of the Prostate,Neoplasms, Prostate,Neoplasms, Prostatic,Prostate Neoplasms,Prostatic Cancer,Cancer, Prostate,Cancer, Prostatic,Cancers, Prostate,Cancers, Prostatic,Neoplasm, Prostate,Neoplasm, Prostatic,Prostate Cancers,Prostate Neoplasm,Prostatic Cancers,Prostatic Neoplasm
D001918 Brachytherapy A collective term for interstitial, intracavity, and surface radiotherapy. It uses small sealed or partly-sealed sources that may be placed on or near the body surface or within a natural body cavity or implanted directly into the tissues. Curietherapy,Implant Radiotherapy,Plaque Therapy, Radioisotope,Radioisotope Brachytherapy,Radiotherapy, Interstitial,Radiotherapy, Intracavity,Radiotherapy, Surface,Brachytherapy, Radioisotope,Interstitial Radiotherapy,Intracavity Radiotherapy,Radioisotope Plaque Therapy,Radiotherapy, Implant,Surface Radiotherapy,Therapy, Radioisotope Plaque
D004867 Equipment Design Methods and patterns of fabricating machines and related hardware. Design, Equipment,Device Design,Medical Device Design,Design, Medical Device,Designs, Medical Device,Device Design, Medical,Device Designs, Medical,Medical Device Designs,Design, Device,Designs, Device,Designs, Equipment,Device Designs,Equipment Designs
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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