Interfractional variability in intensity-modulated radiotherapy stabilized with thermoplastic pelvic immobilization

Study: Lee et al, Interfractional variability in intensity-modulated radiotherapy of prostate cancer with or without thermoplastic pelvic immobilization, Strahlentherapie und Onkologie, 2014,190:94-99

Prostate cancer is a major health problem worldwide. Radiotherapy is one of two major curative treatment methods for prostate cancer (Lee et al, 2014). The use of IMRT has resulted in relatively safe delivery of escalated doses to the prostate, however, the potential problem of IMRT for prostate cancer is that this technique’s ability to generate tighter margins for healthy organ sparing may be incompatible with the error in patient positioning associated with pelvic malignancies

In a study conducted by the Korea University College of Medicine, the impact of thermoplastic pelvic immobilization on these errors was assessed. One group of patients was not immobilized during the treatment, the other group was immobilization with an Orfit 6-points Pelvicast mask.

Pelvicast High Precision System for pelvic and abdomen immobilization

Pelvicast High Precision System for pelvic and abdomen immobilization

The conclusion of the study is that the use of thermoplastic pelvic immobilization in patients with prostate cancer appears to be useful in stabilizing interfractional variability during the planned treatment course. The interfractional motion was significantly lower along the x- and y-axes and in the 3D vector with the immobilization devices as compared to no immobilization.Read the abstract and article here >>

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