Clinical Investigations Original article The rectum and bladder doses in intracavitary brachytherapy for cervical cancer

Abstract

PurposeThe aim of this work was to study the International Commission on Radiation Unit and Measurement (ICRU) for rectum (rICRU) and bladder (bICRU) dose behaviors in the treatment of cervical cancer by high dose rate (HDR) intracavitary brachytherapy (ICRT).Material and methodsA retrospective study was carried out on 38 patients with a total of 38 fractions (1st fraction of each patient) of cervical cancer treated with HDR intracavitary brachytherapy in addition to external radiotherapy (EBRT). Manchester system using standard source loading pattern were used in the planning. Normal distributions were tested to the rICUR and bICRU doses for any statistical conclusions.ResultsIt was observed that rICUR and bICRU of the population under study is found to show normal distribution at 5% level of probability with mean dose of 65% and 61% and standard deviation of 15% and 21%, respectively.ConclusionsThe normality behavior of the rectal and bladder doses suggests that not less than 80% of population (patients) receive rectal and bladder doses less than 80% of the prescribed dose at point A.

Assessment of cartesian co-ordinates-based bladder and rectal dose and variability with tandem-ring angles first Nigerian experience in high-dose-rate brachytherapy

“…It is also noticeable in our institutional study that the maximum doses (82.5-95.7%) to the rectum points in each sub group (of five patients each) across the T-R angles occurred with the use of uterine tandem length 2 cm. This outcome is similar to the findings (RPD > 80 %) of Brahmacharimayum et al 14 in their study involving the Fletcher-suit applicators. They affirmed that shorter intrauterine lengths (≤4 cm) have a tendency to increase rectal and bladder dose in Manchester system of defining dose at Point A.…”

“…In the present study (n = 90), the mean rectal dose according to Table 2 was 68.97 ± 13.57% as against 56.57 ± 11.83% for bladder. In a similar study (n = 38, fractions = 38) by Brahmacharimayum et al 14 the results were 65 ± 15% and 61 ± 21%, respectively, of prescribed dose at Point A. This trend is again repeated in another study (n = 10, fractions = 55) with the values being 72 ± 6% and 67 ± 7%.…”

Doses to Organs at Risk Calculated Using Plato and Oncentra Softwares in Intracavitary Brachytherapy

“…Brachytherapy is a technique in which sealed sources of ionising radiation are placed within the patient, in or approximately close to the target area (cancer). Brachytherapy could be applied either alone or more commonly, as a part of a multi-modality approach with EBRT, surgery and with or without chemotherapy (Brahmacharimayum & Tomcha 2010). In this study, the bladder and the rectum were classified as the organs at risk (OAR) because they were in the close proximity to the target area.…”