Page 35 - ARNM-1-2

Advances in Radiotherapy &

Nuclear Medicine

ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Dosimetry and safety of single-channel

applicators for intracavitary brachytherapy in
cervical cancer

Ren-Jin Chen, Hao-Wen Pang, Xiang-Xiang Shi, Lei Yang, Sheng Lin*,
and Jing-Bo Wu*
Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Sichuan 646000, China

Abstract

High-dose-rate intracavitary brachytherapy plays a crucial role in achieving local control
in the treatment of unresectable uterine cervical cancer. In this treatment approach,
the single-channel applicator (SCA) offers a simpler structure for implantation
compared to the fletcher applicator set (FAS), easing the treatment planning. To
evaluate the dosimetry and safety of the SCA for intracavitary brachytherapy in
cervical cancer, the present study aims to assess its dose distribution in relation to
the FAS. In this study, we compared the physical and dosimetric characteristics of
the inferential reference points (A, cervix; B, bladder; and R, rectum) of the SCA to
those obtained with tandem and FAS dosing. Dosimetric characteristics and dose
distributions in a Chinese female anthropomorphic phantom were evaluated using
RGD-3B thermoluminescent dosimetry. The SCA generated an oblate, pear-shaped
*Corresponding authors: dose distribution curve, resulting in a reduced high-dose area along the bladder-
Sheng Lin rectum axis. Compared to the tandem, the SCA resulted in dose reductions of 21%
(lslinsheng@163.com)
Jing-Bo Wu and 17% at the bladder and rectum, respectively. When compared to the FAS, the
(wjb6147@163.com) dosing with the SCA at the bladder and rectum did not show significant differences
Citation: Chen R, Pang H, Shi X, concerning the occurrence of severe toxic effects. The SCA demonstrated a dose
et al., 2023, Dosimetry and safety distribution curve similar to the standard FAS but not the tandem. The results of the
of single-channel applicators for present study indicate that both SCA and FAS showed equally acute toxicity and
intracavitary brachytherapy in
cervical cancer. Adv Radiother Nucl resulted in late injuries to the rectum and bladder. Nevertheless, the SCA’s simpler
Med, 1(2): 0322 structure, which allows for more convenient placement and planning, warrants
https://doi.org/10.36922/arnm.0322 further clinical investigations to assess its efficacy and practical application.
Received: March 10, 2023
Accepted: July 13, 2023 Keywords: Single-channel applicator; Cervical cancer; Intracavitary brachytherapy;
Published Online: August 17, 2023 Dosimetry
Copyright: © 2023 Author(s).
This is an Open Access article
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution 1. Introduction
License, permitting distribution,
and reproduction in any medium, Cervical cancer is the second most common gynecological malignancy worldwide,
provided the original work is particularly prevalent in developing countries, and is also the leading cause of tumor-
properly cited. related mortality . In China alone, cervical cancer accounts for 15,000 new cases and
[1]
Publisher’s Note: AccScience 30,000 deaths annually . While the formulation of appropriate cancer control policies
[2]
Publishing remains neutral with and the improvement in healthcare infrastructure may contribute to a reduction in
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional incidence, it is essential for doctors to focus on improving current therapeutic approaches
affiliations. and patient outcomes [3-5] .

Volume 1 Issue 2 (2023) 1 https://doi.org/10.36922/arnm.0322