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Physics for Image-Guided Brachytherapy

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Gynecologic Radiation Therapy

Abstract

The integration of 3D imaging for gynecological brachytherapy treatment planning allows the use of dose and volume parameters to describe the dose distribution related to target volumes and normal tissue. The dose and volume specifications introduced by the GEC ESTRO serve as recommendations for recording and reporting, and can also be used for prospective treatment planning. However, these dose volume histogram parameters do not fully describe the spatial dose distribution. By increasing the target conformity and dose shaping, accuracy in the 3D reconstruction of applicator geometry and its relation to the anatomy is paramount. This form of brachytherapy can be performed as real image-guided radiotherapy, with adaptive treatment planning for each application or fraction. Uncertainties and variations must be studied and taken into account to arrive at high-quality treatments with increased target dose and lower dose to the organs at risks.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiotherapy, Vienna General Hospital, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    Christian Kirisits

  2. Department of Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital, Norrebrogade 44, 8000, Aarhus, Denmark

    Kari Tanderup

  3. Department of Medical Physics, Radiumhospitalet, 0310, Oslo, Norway

    Taran Paulsen Hellebust

  4. Department of Radiation Oncology, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Robert Cormack

Authors
  1. Christian Kirisits
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  2. Kari Tanderup
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  3. Taran Paulsen Hellebust
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  4. Robert Cormack
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christian Kirisits .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Dept. Radiation Oncology, Harvard Medical School, Binney St. 44, Boston, 02115, Massachusetts, USA

    Akila N. Viswanathan

  2. , Division Medical Radiation Physics, AKH Wien-MUW, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, Wien, 1090, Austria

    Christian Kirisits

  3. Dept. Radiation Oncology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Watertown Plank Road 8701, Milwaukee, 53226, Wisconsin, USA

    Beth E. Erickson

  4. Klinik Strahlentherapie und, Strahlenbiologie, Universitätsklinikum Wien, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, Wien, 1090, Austria

    Richard Pötter

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Kirisits, C., Tanderup, K., Hellebust, T.P., Cormack, R. (2011). Physics for Image-Guided Brachytherapy. In: Viswanathan, A., Kirisits, C., Erickson, B., Pötter, R. (eds) Gynecologic Radiation Therapy. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-68958-4_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-68958-4_12

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-68954-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-68958-4

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