This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by ADLI, M Articles by KOCAK, Z Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by ADLI, M Articles by KOCAK, Z

Effect of bladder distention on bladder base dose in gynaecological intracavitary high dose rate brachytherapy

M ADLI, MD ¹ M GARPAGAOGLU, MD ² and Z KOCAK, MD ³

¹ Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, ² Department of Radiation Oncology, Acibadem University, Oncology and Neurological Science Hospital, Kozyatai, Istanbul and ³ Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey

Correspondence: Mustafa Adli, Radyasyon Onkolojisi AD, Gaziantep Universitesi Tip Fakultesi, Gaziantep Universitesi Onkoloji Hastanesi, Kizilhisar, Sahinbey, Gaziantep, 27310 Turkey. E-mail: adli{at}gantep.edu.tr

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of bladder volume on bladder base doses during gynaecological intracavitary high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy. 42 different intracavitary HDR brachytherapy applications (tandem and ovoid, 25; ovoid, 17) were performed in 41 patients treated for cervical (n = 29) and endometrial (n = 12) cancer. The International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU) bladder reference point (BRP) dose and doses of 17 points selected on the bladder base were calculated using planning orthogonal radiographs taken after applicator placement with 100 ml and 270 ml bladder volumes. The effect of bladder volume on ICRU BRP and bladder base maximum point (BBMP) doses were analysed for both types of applications. Median ICRU BRP doses (in percentage of prescription dose) were 36.2% (18.2–69.8%) and 40.0% (21.0–61.8%) for ovoid applications (p = 0.13) and 34.9% (15.7–81.0%) and 33.8% (16.5–88.1%) for tandem and ovoid applications (p = 0.48) in 100 ml and 270 ml bladder volumes, respectively. Median BBMP doses were 75.1% (33.8–141.0%) and 104.0% (62.8–223.0%) for ovoid applications (p<0.001) and 116% (51.2–242.0%) and 124.0% (62.0–326%) for tandem and ovoid applications (p = 0.018) in 100 ml and 270 ml bladder volumes, respectively. Although the BBMP dose significantly increases, the ICRU BRP dose does not change with increasing bladder volume in gynaecological intracavitary HDR brachytherapy. Increasing bladder volume increases bladder base maximum dose in intracavitary gynaecological brachytherapy.