Evaluation of plan quality, safety, and toxicity of brachytherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer in an Australian setting following changes in prescription and applicator design.

Introduction: Chemoradiotherapy with MRI-guided brachytherapy boosts is the standard of care for locally advanced cervical cancer. Data from the RetroEMBRACE and EMBRACE I trials provide dose-response curves for target volumes and OAR. This study evaluated plan quality, safety and toxicity following escalation of the CTV_HR D90 prescription from 80-90 Gy to 85-95 Gy for two different applicator designs.

The Australian paediatric brachytherapy experience: A pathway to a national programme.

Introduction: Paediatric cancers are rare, and most children requiring radiation therapy receive external beam radiation (EBRT). Although EBRT may offer organ preservation compared to surgery, it can be associated with significant late effects. Image-guided brachytherapy is a highly specialised technique offering both organ preservation and dose conformity to minimise late toxicity.

Improving plan quality in cervical brachytherapy using a simple knowledge-based prediction tool for OAR dose (D2cm).

Purpose: Toxicity from cervical brachytherapy has been demonstrated to correlate with the D2cm of the bladder, rectum, and bowel. This suggests a simplified version of knowledge-based planning investigating the relationship of the overlap distance for 2cm and the D2cm from planning may be possible. This work demonstrates the feasibility of simple knowledge-based planning to predict the D2cm, detect suboptimal plans, and improve plan quality.

A single-institution review of image-guided brachytherapy for vaginal malignancies using customized molded applicators and interstitial needles.

Purpose: To review a single-institution's pattern of practice, dosimetry results, and clinical outcomes for patients with unresectable malignancies of vagina, vulva, or urethra, receiving brachytherapy using customized vaginal moulds with or without interstitial needles.

Material And Methods: Twenty-one consecutive patients were reviewed. Patients were treated using customized moulds with or without interstitial needles, implanted with a free-hand technique.