TY - JOUR
T1 - Detection of air gaps around the cylinder by postinsertion computed tomography in vaginal cuff brachytherapy
T2 - A prospective series, systematic review, and meta-analysis
AU - Sapienza, Lucas Gomes
AU - Ning, Matthew Stephen
AU - Pellizzon, Antônio Cássio de Assis
AU - Jhingran, Anuja
AU - Klopp, Ann H.
AU - Lin, Lilie L.
AU - Kollmeier, Marisa A.
AU - Calsavara, Vinícius Fernando
AU - Gutierrez, Naira dos Santos
AU - Chojniak, Rubens
AU - Gomes, Maria José Leite
AU - Baiocchi, Glauco
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 American Brachytherapy Society
PY - 2019/9/1
Y1 - 2019/9/1
N2 - Purpose: Postinsertion computed tomography (CT) can identify air gaps (AGs) around the cylinder in vaginal cuff brachytherapy (VCB). This study investigates the incidence and location of AGs. Methods and Materials: Planning CTs of 22 prospectively recruited patients (NCT02091050) treated with 2.6 cm (n = 8) and 3.0 cm (n = 14) cylinders were evaluated. In addition, a systematic literature review and meta-analysis was performed (PubMed and EMBASE). The pooled incidence of AGs was calculated by using the random-effects model weighted by inverse variance. Results: In 18 cases (82%), a total of 45 AGs were found: 26 within the 2 cm cranial length and 19 between 2 and 4 cm of the cylinder. The mean AG diameter was 3.7 mm (range: 1.3–11.8). Cylinder diameter, primary tumor site, and use of external beam radiotherapy were not associated with AG incidence. Systematic literature review revealed nine additional relevant studies, totaling 657 patients. The pooled incidence of patients with ≥1 AG was 67% (95% confidence interval: 50–83). AGs were located at the apex in 43.4%–94.4% of cases. In patients with ≥1 AG (n = 244), the pooled mean number of AGs was 2.18 per patient. The mean dose reduction varied from 9.6% to 29.3%. Conclusion: More than two-thirds of VCB cases present with AGs, which are most commonly at the apex and can potentially reduce mucosal dose. By identifying AGs, postinsertion CT can facilitate selection of optimal cylinder size in VCB.
AB - Purpose: Postinsertion computed tomography (CT) can identify air gaps (AGs) around the cylinder in vaginal cuff brachytherapy (VCB). This study investigates the incidence and location of AGs. Methods and Materials: Planning CTs of 22 prospectively recruited patients (NCT02091050) treated with 2.6 cm (n = 8) and 3.0 cm (n = 14) cylinders were evaluated. In addition, a systematic literature review and meta-analysis was performed (PubMed and EMBASE). The pooled incidence of AGs was calculated by using the random-effects model weighted by inverse variance. Results: In 18 cases (82%), a total of 45 AGs were found: 26 within the 2 cm cranial length and 19 between 2 and 4 cm of the cylinder. The mean AG diameter was 3.7 mm (range: 1.3–11.8). Cylinder diameter, primary tumor site, and use of external beam radiotherapy were not associated with AG incidence. Systematic literature review revealed nine additional relevant studies, totaling 657 patients. The pooled incidence of patients with ≥1 AG was 67% (95% confidence interval: 50–83). AGs were located at the apex in 43.4%–94.4% of cases. In patients with ≥1 AG (n = 244), the pooled mean number of AGs was 2.18 per patient. The mean dose reduction varied from 9.6% to 29.3%. Conclusion: More than two-thirds of VCB cases present with AGs, which are most commonly at the apex and can potentially reduce mucosal dose. By identifying AGs, postinsertion CT can facilitate selection of optimal cylinder size in VCB.
KW - Air gaps
KW - Brachytherapy
KW - Cylinder
KW - Gynecologic cancer
KW - Vaginal vault
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85066314705&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85066314705&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.brachy.2019.04.272
DO - 10.1016/j.brachy.2019.04.272
M3 - Article
C2 - 31160198
AN - SCOPUS:85066314705
SN - 1538-4721
VL - 18
SP - 620
EP - 626
JO - Brachytherapy
JF - Brachytherapy
IS - 5
ER -