Real-time definition of single seed placement sensitivity in low-dose-rate prostate brachytherapy

PURPOSE: In low-dose-rate brachytherapy, iodine-125 seeds are implanted based on a treatment plan, generated with respect to different dose constraints. The quality of the dose distribution depends on a precise seed placement, however, during treatment planning the impact on the dose parameters when...

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Main Authors: Jerg, Katharina I. (Author) , Okonkwo, Ernest (Author) , Giordano, Frank Anton (Author) , Abo-Madyan, Yasser (Author) , Momm, Felix (Author) , Hesser, Jürgen (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 23 December 2023
In: Brachytherapy
Year: 2024, Volume: 23, Issue: 2, Pages: 224-236
ISSN:1873-1449
DOI:10.1016/j.brachy.2023.10.006
Online Access:Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brachy.2023.10.006
Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1538472123016793
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Author Notes:Katharina I. Jerg, Ernest Chukwudi N. Okonkwo, Frank A. Giordano, Yasser Abo-Madyan, Felix Momm, Jürgen W. Hesser
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Summary:PURPOSE: In low-dose-rate brachytherapy, iodine-125 seeds are implanted based on a treatment plan, generated with respect to different dose constraints. The quality of the dose distribution depends on a precise seed placement, however, during treatment planning the impact on the dose parameters when certain seeds fail to be placed precisely is not clear. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We developed a method using automatic differentiation to calculate gradients of dose parameters with regard to the seeds’ positions. Thus, we understand their sensitivity with respect to the seed placement. A statistical analysis is performed on a data set with 35 prostate brachytherapy patients. RESULTS: The most sensitive seeds regarding the dosimetric parameters of both rectum and urethra are close to the corresponding organ. Their gradient directions are mainly orthogonal to their surfaces. However, not all seeds close to the surface are equally sensitive with regard to the dose parameter. The most sensitive seeds regarding the prostate’s dose parameters are distributed throughout the prostate and the direction of the gradients are mainly parallel to its surface. A linear regression with respect to different patient parameters shows that dose constraints which are barely fulfilled have large gradients and thus are additionally sensitive to misplacement. CONCLUSION: Automatic differentiation can be used to analyze dose parameter sensitivity with respect to seed placement. Integrating this into treatment planning systems is valuable as it speeds up the planning procedure, making it more robust and less dependent on user experience while showing the operating physician which needle placements require greater accuracy than others.
Item Description:Gesehen am 10.01.2024
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1873-1449
DOI:10.1016/j.brachy.2023.10.006