Journal article
Dosimetric impact of point A definition on high-dose-rate brachytherapy for cervical cancer: evaluations on conventional point A and MRI-guided, conformal plans
Journal of contemporary brachytherapy, Vol.4(4), pp.241-246
12/2012
DOI: 10.5114/jcb.2012.32559
PMCID: PMC3561607
PMID: 23378854
Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the dosimetric impact of point A definitions on both conventional point A plans and MRI-guided conformal high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy plans.
Material and methods: Fifty-five HDR plans of 36 patients with FIGO stage I to IV cervical cancer were retrospectively studied; these included 30 conventional treatments and 25 conformal plans. Two different point A definitions were explored: the revised Manchester point A and the new point A as recommended by the American Brachytherapy Society. Conventional plans were produced by varying only the point A definition and the normalized isodose lines. Conformal plans were retrospectively generated per GEC-ESTRO recommendations based upon 3.0 Tesla MRI data.
Results: Small yet significant variations were found in point A locations (mean: 0.5 cm, maximum: 2.1 cm, p < 0.001). The use of a new point A caused minimal dose variation for both conventional and conformal plans. Conventional plans normalized to the new point A generated up to 12% (avg. 1-3%) higher overall dose in terms of higher total reference air kerma than plans normalized to other points. Dosimetric changes due to point A definitions were up to 11-12% (avg. less than 2%) on target volumes or organs-at-risk.
Conclusions: For both conventional and conformal plans, the new point A definition leads to smaller variations caused during implant and/or differences in patient anatomy. Using the new point A is expected to produce more consistent brachytherapy plans and improve outcome analysis.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Dosimetric impact of point A definition on high-dose-rate brachytherapy for cervical cancer: evaluations on conventional point A and MRI-guided, conformal plans
- Creators
- James Anderson - Radiation Oncology Department, University of Iowa, USAYunfei Huang - Radiation Oncology Department, University of Iowa, USAYusung Kim - Radiation Oncology Department, University of Iowa, USA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of contemporary brachytherapy, Vol.4(4), pp.241-246
- DOI
- 10.5114/jcb.2012.32559
- PMID
- 23378854
- PMCID
- PMC3561607
- NLM abbreviation
- J Contemp Brachytherapy
- ISSN
- 1689-832X
- eISSN
- 2081-2841
- Publisher
- Termedia Publishing House
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 12/2012
- Academic Unit
- Radiation Oncology
- Record Identifier
- 9984047999202771
Metrics
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