Dosimetric effects of prone and supine positions on post-implant assessments for prostate brachytherapy

Effect of constipation on dosimetry after permanent seed brachytherapy for prostate cancer

Purpose

A major concern in prostate brachytherapy is rectal toxicity, which mainly depends on the dose and volume of rectum involved by radiation. We hypothesize that the rectal distension, as produced by constipation, influences the dosimetric parameters of the rectum and other pelvic organs.

Material and methods

An open, controlled, prospective, paired trial (pre-post test) was designed and conducted. Twenty-three patients treated with prostate brachytherapy were recruited, of which 21 were evaluated. All of them underwent two CT scans, the first one with empty rectum and the second with rectum distended by a catheter balloon. Target volumes and organs at risk were delineated, and dosimetric parameters were calculated and then compared for each patient between both CT.

Results

For rectum, D_2cc increased 15.8% (p < 0.001) and D_0.1cc 24.05% (p = 0.002) when the rectum was full. A significant difference was also found in dose distribution to prostate, when rectum is distended, a 1% decrease in V₁₀₀ (p = 0.031) and a 3.25% in D₉₀ (p = 0.033) was registered.

Conclusions

The status of rectal distension, as occurs in constipation, has a deleterious influence on prostate brachytherapy dosimetry. This situation increases the radiation to rectum and modifies dose distribution to prostate. We recommend prevention of constipation for at least two half lives of the radioactive seeds.

Effect of a urinary catheter on seed position and rectal and bladder doses in CT-based post-implant dosimetry for prostate cancer brachytherapy

PURPOSE

To assess the variability in rectal and bladder dosimetric parameters determined according to post-implant computed tomography (CT) images in patients with or without a urethral catheter.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Patients with prostate cancer who were scheduled to undergo CT after brachytherapy between October 2012 and January 2014 were included. We obtained CT series with and without a urinary catheter in each patient. We compared the rectal and bladder doses in 18 patients on each CT series.

RESULTS

The shifts in the seed positions between with and without a catheter in place were 1.3 ± 0.3 mm (mean ± standard deviation). The radiation doses to the rectum, as determined on the CT series, with a urethral catheter were higher than those on CT without a catheter (p < 0.001). Radiation doses to the bladder with a catheter were significantly lower than those without a catheter (p = 0.027).

CONCLUSIONS

Post-implant dosimetry (PID) with no catheter showed significantly lower rectal doses and higher bladder doses than those of PID with a catheter. We recommend the PID procedure for CT images in patients without a catheter. Use of CT with a catheter is limited to identifying urethral position.

Improved dosimetry in prostate brachytherapy using high resolution contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging: a feasibility study

Purpose

To assess detailed dosimetry data for prostate and clinical relevant intra- and peri-prostatic structures including neurovascular bundles (NVB), urethra, and penile bulb (PB) from postbrachytherapy computed tomography (CT) versus high resolution contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (HR-CEMRI).

Material and methods

Eleven postbrachytherapy prostate cancer patients underwent HR-CEMRI and CT imaging. Computed tomography and HR-CEMRI images were randomized and 2 independent expert readers created contours of prostate, intra- and peri-prostatic structures on each CT and HR-CEMRI scan for all 11 patients. Dosimetry data including V₁₀₀, D₉₀, and D₁₀₀ was calculated from these contours.

Results

Mean V₁₀₀ values from CT and HR-CEMRI contours were as follows: prostate (98.5% and 96.2%, p = 0.003), urethra (81.0% and 88.7%, p = 0.027), anterior rectal wall (ARW) (8.9% and 2.8%, p < 0.001), left NVB (77.9% and 51.5%, p = 0.002), right NVB (69.2% and 43.1%, p = 0.001), and PB (0.09% and 11.4%, p = 0.005). Mean D₉₀ (Gy) derived from CT and HR-CEMRI contours were: prostate (167.6 and 150.3, p = 0.012), urethra (81.6 and 109.4, p = 0.041), ARW (2.5 and 0.11, p = 0.003), left NVB (98.2 and 58.6, p = 0.001), right NVB (87.5 and 55.5, p = 0.001), and PB (11.2 and 12.4, p = 0.554).

Conclusions

Findings of this study suggest that HR-CEMRI facilitates accurate and meaningful dosimetric assessment of prostate and clinically relevant structures, which is not possible with CT. Significant differences were seen between CT and HR-CEMRI, with volume overestimation of CT derived contours compared to HR-CEMRI.