In vivo dosimetry of the rectum in image-guided adaptive interstitial-intracavitary brachytherapy of cervix cancer – A feasibility study

Abstract

Aim and background

To investigate the feasibility of in vivo rectal dosimetry in image-guided adaptive brachytherapy of cervical cancer.

Materials and methods

Error of measurement of dose rate in a semiconductor diode probe was investigated depending on the distance and angle in water, and on temperature in a polymethyl methacrylate phantom using an Ir-192 source. Furthermore, the difference between the measured and calculated dose was analysed in the interstitial brachytherapy of 30 cervix cancer patients. The relationship between in vivo measured dose, calculated dose in the point of the diode, calculated maximal dose in the point of the diodes and calculated maximal dose of the rectum were examined.

Results

The dosimeter measured with 85% accuracy at more than 5cm from the source, but within a closer distance the accuracy decreased significantly. At 45–90° angle, the device measured with a 15% error. The error increased with the temperature, 22% at 35°C. In 8 cases (26.7%) the maximal dose was measured in the correct diode. The device measured 73% of the calculated dose in the point of the diode. The maximum of the calculated doses of diodes was 60% of the calculated maximal dose. The in vivo measured dose was 35% of the calculated maximal dose.

Conclusions

Under treatment conditions, the semiconductor diode does not provide reliable measured data. The probe pushes the rectal wall closer to the high dose areas and underestimates the dose of it. Semiconductor probe is not recommended for in vivo dosimetry of the rectum in image-guided brachytherapy of cervical cancer.