Gonadal-sparing total body irradiation with the use of helical tomotherapy for nonmalignant indications
Abstract
Background: The aim was to demonstrate the feasibility and technique of gonadal sparing total body irradiation (TBI) with helical tomotherapy. Total body irradiation is a common part of the conditioning regimen prior to allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Shielding or dose-reduction to the gonads is often desired to preserve fertility, particularly in young patients undergoing transplant for non-malignant indications. Helical tomotherapy (HT) has been shown to be superior to traditional TBI delivery for organ at risk (OAR) doses and dose homogeneity.
Materials and methods: We present two representative cases (one male and one female) to illustrate the feasibility of this technique, each of whom received 3Gy in a single fraction prior to allogeneic stem cell transplant for benign indications. The planning target volume (PTV) included the whole body with a subtraction of OARs including the lungs, heart, and brain (each contracted by 1cm) as well as the gonads (testicles expanded by 5 cm and ovaries expanded by 0.5 cm).
Results: For the male patient we achieved a homogeneity index of 1.35 with a maximum and median planned dose to the testes of 0.53 Gy and 0.35 Gy, respectively. In-vivo dosimetry demonstrated an actual received dose of 0.48 Gy. For the female patient we achieved a homogeneity index of 1.13 with a maximum and median planned dose to the ovaries of 1.66 Gy and 0.86 Gy, respectively.
Conclusion: Gonadal sparing TBI is feasible and deliverable using HT in patients with non-malignant diseases requiring TBI as part of a pre-stem cell transplant conditioning regimen.
Keywords: gonadal sparinghelical tomotherapymarrow transplantation
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