Intensity-modulated brachytherapy for vaginal cancer.

This study aimed to evaluate the dose modulation potential of static and dynamic steel-shielded applicators using the Geant4 Application for Emission Tomography (GATE) Monte Carlo code for the treatment of vaginal cancer. The GATE TOOLKIT (version 9.0) was used to simulate vaginal cancer intensity-modulated brachytherapy (IMBT) in a pelvic water-equivalent phantom. IMBT performance of a multichannel static and single-channel dynamic steel-shielded applicator was compared to that of a conventional multichannel Plexiglas applicator. DoseActors were defined to calculate the absorbed dose and attached to the voxelized target and organs at risk (OARs). Co and Ir high-dose-rate seeds were used as irradiation sources. Dynamic IMBT decreased the D of the rectum and bladder by 28.67 and 28.11% using the Co source and by 40.00 and 36.34% using the Ir source, respectively. Static IMBT decreased the D for the rectum and bladder by 11.69 and 9.29% using the Co source and by 22.21 and 17.71% using the Ir source, respectively. In contrast, absorbed dose parameters (D, D, and D) for the target in the three techniques showed a mean relative variation of 0.96% (0.00-7.49%) for both sources. Static and dynamic IMBT using steel-shielded applicators provided relatively better OAR protection while maintaining similar target coverage in the treatment of vaginal cancer.