Conventional conformal radiotherapy vs intracavitary brachytherapy for the adjuvant postoperative treatment of cervical cancer: A comparative dosimetric study

Abstract

The referent volume received HDR-ICBT prescribed dose. The maximum ICBT percentage dose to the rectum and urinary bladder was 101% and 106% respectively. In all 3D-CRT plans almost 100% of planning target volume (PTV) was covered by 95% therapy isodose surface. From 12 - 13% of the rectum and 1-3% urinary bladder volume were covered by 100% isodose surface, with the highest maximum dose of 104% and 101%, respectively. Comparison of the PTV dose coverage and the maximum dose to the rectum and urinary bladder for HDR-ICBT and 3D-CRT plans showed no major difference. CONCLUSION; 3D-CRT could be considered as adequate replacement for ICBT in the adjuvant postoperative treatment of the vaginal cuff and upper thi-rd of present vaginal tissue. Time-dose-fractionation pattern for HDR-ICBT may be safely applied for 3D-CRT.

The value of brachytherapy in the age of advanced external beam radiotherapy: a review of the literature in terms of dosimetry

“…Six articles with very few patients were found that examined technical considerations and/or the feasibility of using EBRT as an alternative to BT. Three studies, using only one patient, investigated whether 3D-CRT and IMRT can achieve a brachy-like dose distribution for cervical cancer [68][69][70]. BT irradiation of the vaginal cuff of patients with endometrial cancer has also been simulated with advanced EBRT using two and four patients, respectively [71,72].…”

“…The majority of studies on prostate showed superiority of BT over EBRT for rectal and bladder dose. The skin was the only site where the VMAT plans were better for almost all parameters [ 62 , 63 , 65 , 66 , 70 ]. The thin, large-curvature target volume appears to be better irradiated by external beams.…”