Abstract
Brachytherapy was among the first methods of radiotherapy and has steadily continued
to evolve. Here we present a brief review of the progression of dose calculation methods
in brachytherapy to the current state-of-the art computerized methods for heterogeneity
correction. We further review the origin and development of the BrachyVision (Varian
Medical Systems, Inc., Palo Alto, CA) treatment planning system and evaluate dosimetric
results from 12 patients implanted with the strut-assisted volumetric implant (SAVI)
applicator (Cianna Medical, Aliso Viejo, CA) for accelerated partial breast irradiation
(APBI). Dosimetric results from plans calculated using homogenous and heterogeneous
algorithms have been compared to investigate the impact of heterogeneity corrections.
Our study showed large percent difference between mean cardiac doses 11.8 ± 6.2% (p = 0.0007) calculated with and without heterogeneity corrections. Our findings are
consistent with those of others, indicating an overestimation of the distal dose to
organs-at-risk by traditional methods, especially at interfaces between air and tissue.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 30, 2018
Accepted:
February 21,
2018
Received:
February 14,
2018
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 American Association of Medical Dosimetrists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
