TU-E-213CD-01: Image Guided Adaptive Brachytherapy for Cervical Cancer

Medical Physics
O CraciunescuChristian Kirisits

Abstract

Image-guidance plays an important role in modern radiation therapy, predominantly in external beam planning and delivery. In contrast, brachytherapy is still largely based on systems originally developed in the early 20th century. In recent years, with the advent of high/pulsed dose rate (HDR/PDR) afterloading technology, advanced treatment planning systems and CT and MRI compatible applicators, image-guided adaptive brachytherapy treatments are now achievable. With image guidance, the target can be delineated more precisely, resulting in delivering more controlled doses of radiation to the target while sparing surrounding healthy tissue. GEC-ESTRO guidelines are crucial for implementing robust and standardized image guided adaptive brachytherapy (IGABT). They rely on MRI-guided planning for cervical cancer. MRI can be performed for each brachytherapy (BT) fraction to adaptively plan and deliver the desired radiation dose with less toxicity to surrounding tissues. MR imaging has its advantages, but also challenges and limitations (image artifacts and distortion related to magnetic nonlinearity, MR sequence selection, accuracy of 3D applicator reconstruction) that need addressed. Moreover, MRI technology is not readily available...Continue Reading

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