A New Simple Afterloading Applicator for Gynecological Intracavitary Therapy

Abstract

The description, technique, and advantages of an improvised, simple afterloading applicator for treatment of uterinecervical carcinoma at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre are outlined. A thin-walled, small diameter tandem in combination with a remodified type Manchester ovoid set, provides an afterloading system which accepts recently available, small diameter micrad cesium-137 sources. The advantages of this applicator include less need for dilation of the cervix, thus eliminating the need for general anesthesia, more accurate placement of the ovoids due to fixed spacers, different ovoid sizes and spacer combination for different patient sizes and shapes, insertion ease due to simple maneuverability, an afterloading procedure minimizing radiation exposure to personnel, and structure compatible with the algorithm upon which the computer calculations are based.