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Change in prostate volume during extreme hypofractionation analysed with MRI.

Authors :
Gunnlaugsson, Adalsteinn
Kjellén, Elisabeth
Hagberg, Oskar
Thellenberg-Karlsson, Camilla
Widmark, Anders
Nilsson, Per
Source :
Radiation Oncology; 2014, Vol. 9 Issue 1, p1-12, 12p
Publication Year :
2014

Abstract

Background Hypo-fractionated external beam radiotherapy with narrow CTV-PTV margins is increasingly applied for prostate cancer. This demands a precise target definition and knowledge on target location and extension during treatment. It is unclear how increase in fraction size affects changes in prostate volume during treatment. Our aim was to study prostate volume changes during extreme hypo-fractionation (7 × 6.1Gy) by using sequential MRIs. Methods Twenty patients treated with extreme hypo-fractionation were recruited from an on-going prospective randomized phase III trial. An MRI scan was done before start of treatment, at mid treatment and at the end of radiotherapy. The prostate was delineated at each MRI and the volume and maximum extension in left-right, anterior-posterior and cranial-caudal directions were measured. Results There was a significant increase in mean prostate volume (14%) at mid treatment as compared to baseline. The prostate volume remained enlarged (9%) at the end of radiotherapy. Prostate swelling was most pronounced in the anterior-posterior and cranialcaudal directions. Conclusions Extreme hypo-fractionation induced a significant prostate swelling during treatment that was still present at the time of last treatment fraction. Our results indicate that prostate swelling is an important factor to take into account when applying treatment margins during short extreme hypo-fractionation, and that tight margins should be applied with caution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1748717X
Volume :
9
Issue :
1
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Radiation Oncology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
94444915
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1186/1748-717X-9-22