Accuracy of Conformal Radiotherapy in Prostate Cancer
Author Information
Author(s): Stanley S., Griffiths S., Sydes M.R., Moore A.R., Syndikus I., Dearnaley D.P.
Primary Institution: St James's Institute of Oncology, Leeds, UK
Hypothesis
Can conformal radiotherapy be delivered accurately and reproducibly to prostate cancer patients?
Conclusion
The study found that accurate conformal treatment was delivered, with electronic portal imaging associated with increased accuracy.
Supporting Evidence
- 83% of the fractions imaged were within 5 mm of the planned position.
- 81% of patients had at least one displacement of ≥3 mm.
- 63% of patients had at least one displacement of ≥5 mm.
- The use of electronic portal imaging was associated with increased accuracy.
Takeaway
Doctors used special imaging to make sure they were treating prostate cancer patients accurately, and they found that they did a good job most of the time.
Methodology
The study analyzed displacement and correction data from 695 patients who received conformal radiotherapy, using univariate and multivariate analyses.
Potential Biases
Variability in local correction practices and imaging methods may introduce bias in the accuracy of reported displacements.
Limitations
The requirement to correct errors was applied inconsistently across centers, which may have influenced the reported displacements.
Participant Demographics
Patients were men with localized prostate cancer, aged and stratified by risk group.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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