Dosimetric evaluation of the feasibility of utilizing a reduced number of interstitial needles in combined intracavitary and interstitial brachytherapy for cervical cancer.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the ability of the Venezia advanced multichannel tandem and ring applicator to consistently produce dosimetrically comparable plans utilizing a reduced number of needle channels, to reduce the risk of secondary complications when boosting cervical cancer treatments with high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy.

METHODS

We evaluated 26 fractions from 13 patients who were treated with HDR brachytherapy using the Venezia (Elekta) applicator. The original plans included a full load of 12-16 needles, including both parallel and 30-degree oblique needles. We replanned each original to nine new configurations, with a reduced number of two, three, four, or six needles. Comparisons included differences in percentage dose coverage to 90% of the high-risk clinical target volume, and percentage dose to 2 cm of the bladder, rectum, sigmoid, and bowel. We considered new plans "passing" if they remained within our standards (D90 > 100%; D2 cm  < 85% bladder, <65% rectum, sigmoid, bowel) or did not perform worse than original.

RESULTS

Removing only the two most anterior or the two most posterior needles from both sides showed 80.8% and 61.5% overall passing rate. Removal of the most anterior and posterior four needles together showed 65.4% overall passing rate. Removing all oblique needles showed 19.2% overall passing rate. Removing only left-sided or only right-sided oblique needles showed 46.2% and 23.1% overall passing, respectively. Removing only right-sided or only left-sided parallel needles separately showed 19.2% and 34.6% overall passing, respectively. Removing all parallel needles showed 11.5% overall passing rate.

CONCLUSIONS

As only two replans required a full needle load to maintain dosimetric quality and 40 (76.9%), 36 (34.6%), 18 (69.2%), and 10 (19.2%) replans passed with 2, 3, 4, and 6 needles removed respectively, this indicates the potential for using a lesser number of interstitial needles during combined intracavitary and interstitial HDR brachytherapy while maintaining dosimetric quality.