Bowel exposure in rectal cancer IMRT using prone, supine, or a belly board

Jasper Nijkamp, Barry Doodeman, Corrie Marijnen, Andrew Vincent, Corine Van Vliet-Vroegindeweij

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

45 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate bowel exposure using prone, supine, or two different belly boards for rectal cancer intensity modulated RT plans using a full bladder protocol. Methods and materials: For 11 volunteers four MR scans were acquired, on a flat table in prone, supine, and on two different belly boards (IT-V Medizintechnik GmbH® (BB1) and CIVCO® (BB2)), using a full bladder protocol. On each scan a 25 × 2 Gy IMRT plan was calculated. Results: BB2 led to an average bowel area volume reduction of 20-30% at any dose level compared to prone. BB1 showed a smaller dose reduction effect, while no differences between prone and supine were found. Differences between BB2 and prone, supine or BB1 were significant up to a level of respectively, 45, 35, and 30 Gy. The reducing effect varied among individuals, except for the 50 Gy region, where no effect was found. An increase in bladder volume of 100 cc led to a significant bowel area V15 reduction of 16% independent of scan type. Conclusions: In the low and intermediate dose region a belly board still attributes to a significant bowel dose reduction when using IMRT and a full bladder protocol. A larger bladder volume resulted in a significant decreased bowel area dose.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)22-29
Number of pages8
JournalRadiotherapy and Oncology
Volume102
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished or Issued - Jan 2012
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Belly board
  • Bowel exposure
  • IMRT
  • Rectal cancer

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hematology
  • Oncology
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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