Interobserver variability in rectum contouring in high-dose-rate brachytherapy for prostate cancer: A multi-institutional prospective analysis
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the interobserver variability (KW) of rectum contouring, and its dosimetric consequences, for high-dose-rate brachytherapy in patients with prostate cancer across multiple institutions. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Five radiation oncologists contoured rectums in 10 patients on transperineal ultrasound image sets after establishing a delineation consensus. The D-0.1cc, D-1cc, and D-2cc rectum volume parameters were determined. The mean, standard deviation, and range of each dose-volume histogram parameter were evaluated for each patient. The JOY was determined using the coefficient of variation, and the dosimetric impacts on the total dose were analyz…
Depth determination of skin cancers treated with superficial brachytherapy: ultrasound vs. histopathology
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare high frequency ultrasonography (HFUS) and histpathologic assessment done by punch biopsy in order to determine depth of basal cell carcinoma (BCC), in both superficial and nodular BCCs prior to brachytherapy treatment. Material and methods: This study includes 20 patients with 10 superficial and 10 nodular BCCs. First, punch biopsy was done to confirm the diagnosis and to measure tumour depth (Breslow rate). Subsequently, HFUS was done to measure tumour depth to search for correlation of these two techniques. Results: Neither clear tendency nor significance of the punch biopsy vs. HFUS depth determination is observed. Depth value differences …