December 10, 2009 - Better dose conformality can be reached with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in comparison to three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy techniques - as used in dose escalation studies - offering an additional opportunity for healthy tissue protection, reports Michael Pinkawa, M.D., in an abstract of his study published in UroToday.com.

The study's objective is to compare the dose distribution in IMRT treatment plans with and without a simultaneous integrated boost (IB) after performing a PET/CT with 18F-choline for treatment planning. Dose-volume histograms and equivalent uniform doses (EUD) were evaluated and normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) for the bladder and rectum compared.

Dr. Pinkawa found that while improved biochemical control rates for prostate cancer have been consistently shown in randomized three-dimensional (3D) conformal radiotherapy dose escalation studies, this benefit was associated with the problem of increased rectal toxicity. The increasing implementation of image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) allows a reduction of safety margins around the clinical target volume (CTV). Thus, the same or improved local tumor control with lower rectal toxicity due to reduced rectal volume within the target volume can be expected.

Dr. Pinkawa also points to dose-painting as another advantage associated with IMRT as areas with a higher risk of tumor recurrence or a higher tumor load can be covered with larger doses in the same fraction. In view of an often multifocal micrsoscopic spread of prostate cancer - not possible to delineate with the presently available imaging modalities - the whole prostate must still be covered by an effective dose.

He found that treatment planning with a simultaneous integrated boost allows an individually adapted dose escalation. The boost volume, as defined by a tumor-to-background uptake ratio >2 in a PET/CT with choline, correlated with several well-established prognostic parameters. His founding indicated that the therapeutic ratio can be improved by a considerable dose escalation to the macroscopic tumor site without considerably increasing the NTCP for the rectum and bladder.

For more information: www.urotoday.com


Related Content

News | Radiation Oncology

May 2, 2025 — GE HealthCare has announced an intended expansion of its radiation oncology portfolio as well as the ...

Time May 03, 2025
arrow
News | Radiology Education

April 21, 2025 — On June 20, the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) will award Life Member status to ...

Time April 21, 2025
arrow
News | Radiology Business

April 16, 2025 — According to a new report, the U.S. Radiotherapy Market is projected to reach $2.49 billion by 2030 ...

Time April 17, 2025
arrow
News | ASTRO

March 14, 2025 — Another pivotal milestone in the nation’s fight against cancer recently took place with the ...

Time March 17, 2025
arrow
News | Computed Tomography (CT)

Royal Philips recently received 510(k) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its detector-based ...

Time November 13, 2024
arrow
News

Aug. 5, 2024 — Researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have demonstrated that adding ...

Time August 09, 2024
arrow
News | PET-CT

July 31, 2024 — In a head-to-head comparison with FDG PET/CT, FDG PET/MRI demonstrated comparable or superior diagnostic ...

Time July 31, 2024
arrow
Feature | Radiation Oncology | By Christine Book

News emerging from several leading organizations and vendors in the radiation therapy arena came in at a fast pace in ...

Time July 30, 2024
arrow
News | Radiation Oncology

July 11, 2024 — The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) issued the following statement from Jeff M ...

Time July 11, 2024
arrow
News | Radiation Oncology

July 9, 2024 — Insights from the latest Mordor Intelligence report, “Radiotherapy Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth ...

Time July 09, 2024
arrow
Subscribe Now