In this study, dose rate distribution around a spherical 137Cs pellet source, from a low-dose-rate (LDR) Selectron remote afterloading system used in gynecological brachytherapy, has been determined using experimental and Monte Carlo simulation techniques. Monte Carlo simulations were performed using MCNP4C code, for a single pellet source in water medium and Plexiglas, and measurements were pe...

introduction: brachytherapy is a type of radiotherapy in which radioactive sources are used in proximity of tumors normally for treatment of malignancies in the head, prostate and cervix. materials and methods: the cs-137 selectron source is a low-dose-rate (ldr) brachytherapy source used in a remote afterloading system for treatment of different cancers. this system uses active and inactive sp...

A novel phantom is presented for 'full system' dosimetric audit comparing planned and delivered dose distributions in HDR gynaecological brachytherapy, using clinical treatment applicators. The brachytherapy applicator dosimetry test object consists of a near full-scatter water tank with applicator and film supports constructed of Solid Water, accommodating any typical cervix applicator. Film d...

In hyperthermia treatment planning (HTP) the goal is to find the amplitudes and phases of antennas in the applicator to efficiently heat the tumor. To do this prior information regarding tumor characteristics such as the size, position and geometry, in addition to an exact model of the hyperthermia applicator is needed. Based on this information, the optimal frequency of operation can be determ...

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of 252Californium neutron intracavitary brachytherapy using a two-channel Y applicator combined with external beam radiotherapy for the treatment of endometrial cancer. METHODS Thirty-one patients with stage I-III endometrial cancer were recruited for this study. The stage I patients received only 252Californium neutron intracavita...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the interindividual and intraindividual applicator position variability in high dose rate ring and tandem intracavitary brachytherapy applications in locally advanced cervical cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Eight patients with locally advanced cervical cancer formed the study population. They had been treated in Dokuz Eylül University Department of Radiation Oncology betwe...

Children up to 6 years of age who lived with pesticide applicators were monitored for increased risk of pesticide exposure: 48 pesticide applicator and 14 reference families were recruited from an agricultural region of Washington State in June 1995. A total of 160 spot urine samples were collected from 88 children, including repeated measures 3-7 days apart. Samples were assayed by gas chromat...

This work demonstrates the feasibility of a hybrid radiofrequency (RF) applicator that supports magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and MR controlled targeted RF heating at ultrahigh magnetic fields (B0≥7.0T). For this purpose a virtual and an experimental configuration of an 8-channel transmit/receive (TX/RX) hybrid RF applicator was designed. For TX/RX bow tie antenna electric dipoles were employ...

PURPOSE During intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT) for cervical cancer, the choice of applicator system remains rather arbitrary. However, as the applicator geometry may play an important role in dose distribution, thereby improving the therapeutic ratio, this study was conducted to compare the Manchester-style and Fletcher-style applicator systems. MATERIAL AND METHODS After completion of EBR...

PURPOSE To evaluate a method of reducing computed tomography (CT) metal artifacts due to the Fletcher-Suit applicator. METHODS AND MATERIALS We apply a projection-interpolation algorithm to CT images containing artifacts from the brachytherapy applicator. Regions of projection data containing the applicator are interpolated, removing the metal from the projections. A new image is then reconst...