Volumetric and dosimetric comparison of computed tomography- and trans-abdominal ultrasound-based volumes for image-guided cervix cancer brachytherapy.
Juan Carlos Pari Salas, Kevin Aguirre Urviola, Paola Cynthia Smith Benavides, Digna Cristina Santos Flores, Albert Bedregal Cruz, Danny Giancarlo Apaza Véliz
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose: In cervical cancer, brachytherapy is a key component of multi-disciplinary treatment. Wide scale studies, such as EMBRACE, demonstrate benefits of volume-oriented and image-guided brachytherapy. However, MRI and CT are too expensive for health systems with scarce resources. The aim of the study was to assess whether ultrasound- and CT-based volumes of high-risk clinical target volume (HR-CTV) in organs at risk (OARs) as well as dose values in a given plan are comparable.
Material and methods: Eighteen applications were evaluated. After CT scans, axial ultrasound images were acquired in 5 mm steps, serving as a secondary set. Post-prescription, HR-CTV, bladder, and rectum were contoured on ultrasound images. Image sets were compared using CT-based volumes as primary reference. Dice coefficient and Jaccard index were calculated. CT-based dosimetric plan was then compared with ultrasound-based volumes to determine D90 HR-CTV, D2cc bladder, and D2cc rectum, and these were compared with CT-based values.
Results: The mean dose differences between CT and ultrasound volumes for HR-CTV and D2cc rectum were less than 5%, with the bladder slightly above 5%. Wilcoxon test showed no significant difference between the mean doses for CT and ultrasound. Dice coefficients indicated good to very good correlation for these volumes.
Conclusions: Ultrasound-based volume acquisition appears comparable with CT volumetric acquisition in both dosimetric and volumetric terms. Further studies are needed to validate this technique, potentially offering a more affordable and feasible volume-based brachytherapy option for low-income health systems.
期刊介绍:
The “Journal of Contemporary Brachytherapy” is an international and multidisciplinary journal that will publish papers of original research as well as reviews of articles. Main subjects of the journal include: clinical brachytherapy, combined modality treatment, advances in radiobiology, hyperthermia and tumour biology, as well as physical aspects relevant to brachytherapy, particularly in the field of imaging, dosimetry and radiation therapy planning. Original contributions will include experimental studies of combined modality treatment, tumor sensitization and normal tissue protection, molecular radiation biology, and clinical investigations of cancer treatment in brachytherapy. Another field of interest will be the educational part of the journal.