Lung Cancer Brachytherapy: Robotics-Assisted Minimally Invasive Approach

Abstract

New technological concepts have been evolving to manage the relative poor prognosis of lung cancer. Brachytherapy is becoming an option for both unresectable and early resectable lung cancer. Three-dimensional ultrasound (US) of lung tumours and image-guided minimally invasive robotics-assisted brachytherapy are feasible for dosimetry planning and management of lung tumours. The present article reviews the current knowledge of lung brachytherapy and discusses its potential in future management of lung cancer.

2D/3D registration algorithm for lung brachytherapy

“…Brachytherapy has the potential for easy adaptation to the size and shape of the tumour. Finally, brachytherapy is less susceptible to position uncertainty resulting from tumour motion during treatment than is the case with external beam radiation (Yu et al, 2011). …”

“…Brachytherapy is considered to be HDR when it is capable of delivering radiation to a prescription point at dose rates greater than 20 cGy/minute (Yu et al, 2011, Khan et al, 2009. In LDR, the prescription dose rate normally ranges from 0.5 to 2 cGy/min (Khan et al, 2009).…”

“…In LDR, the prescription dose rate normally ranges from 0.5 to 2 cGy/min (Khan et al, 2009). The most common applications of HDR brachytherapy are the treatment of endobronchial lung cancer, esophagus cancer, cervical cancer, localized prostate cancer, and post-lumpectomy treatment of breast cancer (Yu et al, 2011).…”

“…Brachytherapy can shrink a tumour that is blocking the airway and help improve breathing. It may also stop the bleeding caused by the cancer (Yu et al, 2011).…”

Remote radioactive seed-loading device for permanent brachytherapy of oral cancer with Au-198 grains

“…Consequently, there are few hospitals conducting permanent brachytherapy, and the number of treatments is limited at these hospitals. Brachytherapy devices for prostate and lung cancers that reduce the radiation dose to the doctors have been developed [4][5][6][7][8][9]. However, devices that can be applied to permanent brachytherapy for oral cancer have not been developed.…”