Directionally Modulated Ir-192 Brachytherapy Using Simple 3D Printed Shielded Applicators

Gynecologic cancers such as stage IIIA cervical, recurrent endometrial, and primary vaginal cancer often involve only a portion of the vaginal wall. Yet most brachytherapy applicators provide highly symmetric dose distributions with only limited radial modulation of the dose. While multi-channel vaginal cylinders offer some modulation, shielded designs are needed to create clinically useful asymmetric dose distributions that improve dose conformality and sparing of organs at risk (OAR). Here we have designed and 3D printed novel shielded applicators that provide this modulation where desired, and radially symmetric distributions otherwise, without any complex mechanical moving parts.

Source: Brachytherapy - April 30, 2019 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: lawrie Skinner, Thomas Niedermayr, Benjamin Fahimian, Nicolas Prionas, Joseph Perl, Elizabeth Kidd Source Type: research