A Single Institutional Experience of the Utilization of Hydrogel Spacer for Prostate SBRT

Abstract

Purpose: External beam radiation for prostate cancer is associated with a risk of rectal toxicity. Recent research has supported the use of biodegradable rectal spacers for radiation therapy in patients with localized prostate cancer. This hydrogel is inserted between the prostate and the rectum, increasing the space between these two organs. This results in decreased radiation dose to the rectum, as the radiation dose falls off in the hydrogel, instead of the rectum. This is specifically important in the use of the hypofractionated stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to the prostate.