In vivo dosimetry in prostate brachytherapy
This study describes implementation of in vivo dosimetry for high dose rate prostate brachytherapy treatments using a commercially available metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) detector.
High dose rate (HDR) prostate brachytherapy is a well established treatment for prostate cancer. Typically around 12-20 catheters are inserted into the prostate through the perineum under transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guidance with the patient under anaesthetic. The treatment is then planned using images acquired with the catheters in place – either TRUS, CT or MRI. The treatment objective is to deliver the prescribed radiation dose to the prostate while keeping the dose to the urethra and rectum within defined limits. For treatment, the catheters are connected to an afterloader that delivers the treatment using a single radioactive source (usually Iridium-192) driven through each catheter in turn. By controlling the position of the source in each catheter (dwell position) and the time that the source spends at each position (dwell time), the treatment is optimised to achieve the dose objectives.
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