eISSN: 2081-2841
ISSN: 1689-832X
Journal of Contemporary Brachytherapy
Current Issue Archive Supplements Articles in Press Journal Information Aims and Scope Editorial Office Editorial Board Register as Author Register as Reviewer Instructions for Authors Abstracting and indexing Subscription Advertising Information Links
Editorial System
Submit your Manuscript
SCImago Journal & Country Rank

6/2022
vol. 14
 
Share:
Share:
abstract:
Original paper

Investigation of in vivo source tracking error thresholds for interstitial and intra-cavitary high-dose-rate cervical brachytherapy

Yashiv Dookie
1
,
Joel Poder
2
,
Simon Downes
3
,
Dean Cutajar
2
,
Anatoly Rosenfeld
2

  1. Shoalhaven Cancer Care Centre, Nowra, NSW, Australia
  2. Centre for Medical Radiation Physics, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
  3. Nelune Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, NSW, Australia
J Contemp Brachytherapy 2022; 14, 6: 568–581
Online publish date: 2022/12/30
View full text Get citation
 
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to determine a comprehensive in vivo source tracking error thresholds in high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy for cervical cancer. Achieving this enables the definition of an action level for imminent in vivo source tracking technologies and treatment monitoring devices, preventing clinically relevant changes to the applied dose.

Material and methods
Retrospective HDR interstitial (n = 10) and intra-cavitary (n = 20) cervical brachytherapy patients were randomly selected to determine the feasibility of implementing in vivo source tracking error thresholds. A script was developed to displace all dwell positions in each treatment plan, along all major axes from their original position. Dose-volume histogram (DVH) indices were calculated without re-optimization of modified plans to determine the appropriate in vivo source tracking error thresholds in each direction.

Results
In vivo source tracking error thresholds were directionally dependent; the smallest were found to be 2 mm in the anterior and posterior directions for both interstitial and intra-cavitary treatments. High-risk clinical treatment volume (HR-CTV) coverage was significantly impacted by displacements of 4 to 5 mm along each axis. Critically, there was a large variation in DVH metrics with displacement due to change in dwell weightings and patient anatomy.

Conclusions
Determining the dosimetric impact of dwell position displacement provides a clinical benchmark for the development of pre-treatment verification devices and an action level for real-time treatment monitoring. It was established that an in vivo source tracking error threshold needs to be patient-specific. In vivo source tracking error thresholds should be determined for each patient, and can be conducted with extension of the method established in this work.

keywords:

brachytherapy, in vivo, high-dose-rate, gynecological, source tracking, dwell position error

 
Quick links
© 2024 Termedia Sp. z o.o.
Developed by Bentus.