For the first time, KIM has been used for real-time image guidance during cancer radiotherapy. The measured accuracy and precision were both submillimeter for the first treatment fraction. This clinical translational research milestone paves the way for the broad implementation of real-time image guidance to facilitate the detection and correction of geometric and dosimetric errors, and resultant improved clinical outcomes, in cancer radiotherapy.

Clinical implementation of real-time KIM image guidance combined with gating for prostate cancer eliminates large prostate displacements during treatment delivery. Both in vivo KIM accuracy and precision are well below 1 mm.

Background and purposeThe use of a tissue expander (hydrogel) for sparing of the rectum from increased irradiation during prostate radiotherapy is becoming popular. The goal of this study is to investigate the effect of a tissue expander (hydrogel) on the intrafraction prostate motion during radiotherapy.Methods and materialReal time prostate motion was analysed for 26 patients and 742 fractions; 12 patients with and 14 patients without hydrogel (SpaceOAR™). The intra-fraction motion was quantified and compared between the two groups.ResultsThe average (±standard deviation) of the mean motion during the treatment for patients with and without hydrogel was 1.5 (±0.8 mm) and 1.1 (±0.9 mm) respectively (p < 0.05). The average time of motion >3 mm for patients with and without hydrogel was 7.7 % (±1.1 %) and 4.5 % (±0.9 %) respectively (p > 0.05). The hydrogel age, fraction number and treatment time were found to have no effect (R2 < 0.05) on the prostate motion.ConclusionsDifferences in intrafraction motion in patients with hydrogel and without hydrogel were within measurement uncertainty (<1 mm). This result confirms that the addition of a spacer does not negate the need for intrafraction motion management if clinically indicated.