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A review of dosimetric impact of implementation of model-based dose calculation algorithms (MBDCAs) for HDR brachytherapy

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Abstract

To obtain dose distributions more physically representative to the patient anatomy in brachytherapy, calculation algorithms that can account for heterogeneity are required. The current standard AAPM Task Group No 43 (TG-43) dose calculation formalism has some clinically relevant dosimetric limitations. Lack of tissue heterogeneity and scattered dose corrections are the major weaknesses of the TG-43 formalism and could lead to systematic dose errors in target volumes and organs at risk. Over the last decade, model-based dose calculation algorithms (MBDCAs) have been clinically offered as complementary algorithms beyond the TG43 formalism for high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy treatment planning. These algorithms provide enhanced dose calculation accuracy by using the information in the patient’s computed tomography images, which allows modeling the patient’s geometry, material compositions, and the treatment applicator. Several researchers have investigated the implementation of MBDCAs in HDR brachytherapy for dose optimization, but moving toward using them as primary algorithms for dose calculations is still lagging. Therefore, an overview of up-to-date research is needed to familiarize clinicians with the current status of the MBDCAs for different cancers in HDR brachytherapy. In this paper, we review the MBDCAs for HDR brachytherapy from a dosimetric perspective. Treatment sites covered include breast, gynecological, lung, head and neck, esophagus, liver, prostate, and skin cancers. Moreover, we discuss the current status of implementation of MBDCAs and the challenges.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank A/Prof. Claire Dempsey, Calvary Mater Newcastle Hospital, and Prof. Annette Haworth, The University of Sydney, for their valuable comments and insightful suggestions on this manuscript.

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  1. Yousif A. M. Yousif and Alexander F. I. Osman: First author contribution.

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  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, North West Cancer Centre—Tamworth Hospital, Tamworth, Australia

    Yousif A. M. Yousif

  2. Department of Medical Physics, Al-Neelain University, 11121, Khartoum, Sudan

    Alexander F. I. Osman & Mohammed A. Halato

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YY initiated the idea and carried out the database search; AO carried out the database search and drafted the manuscript; MH carried out the database search. All authors were involved in writing the manuscript and approved the submitted version.

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Correspondence to Yousif A. M. Yousif or Alexander F. I. Osman.

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Yousif, Y.A.M., Osman, A.F.I. & Halato, M.A. A review of dosimetric impact of implementation of model-based dose calculation algorithms (MBDCAs) for HDR brachytherapy. Phys Eng Sci Med 44, 871–886 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13246-021-01029-8

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