Abstract
Purpose:To investigate a new Directional Modulated Brachytherapy (DMBT) intra‐uterine tandem using various 192‐Ir after‐loaders.Methods:Dose distributions from the 192‐Ir sources were modulated using a 6.3mm diameter tungsten shield (18.0g/cm3). The source moved along 6 longitudinal grooves, each 1.3mm in diameter, evenly spaced along periphery of the shield, The tungsten rod was enclosqed by 0.5mm thick Delrin (1.41g/cc). Monte Carlo N particle (MCNPX) was used to calculate dose distributions. 51million particles were calculated on 504 cores of a supercomputer. Fifteen different patients originally treated with a traditional tandem‐and‐ovoid applicator, with 5 fractions each, (15 patients X 5 fxs = 75 plans) were re‐planned with the DMBT applicator combined with traditional ovoids, on an in‐house developed HDR brachytherapy planning platform, which used intensity modulated planning capabilities using a constrained gradient optimization algorithm. For all plans the prescription dose was 6 Gy and they were normalized to match the clinical treated V100.Results:Generally, the DMBT plan quality was a remarkable improvement from conventional T&O plans because of the anisotropic dose distribution of DMBT. The largest difference was to the bladder which had a 0.59±0.87 Gy (8.5±28.7%) reduction in dose. This was because of the the horseshoe shape (U‐shape) of the bladder. The dose reduction to rectum and sigmoid were 0.48±0.55 Gy (21.1±27.2%) and 0.10±0.38 Gy (40.6±214.9%), respectively. The D90 to the HRCTV was 6.55±0.96 Gy (conventional T&O) and 6.59±1.06 Gy (DMBT).Conclusion:For image guided adaptive brachytherapy, greater flexibility of radiation intensity is essential and DMBT can be the solution.
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