Ultrasound used for assessing the in situ position of intrauterine tandems.
Intracavitary radiation is an integral part of the treatment in many gynecologic cancers. The intrauterine tandem has a well-established role in treating both cervical and endometrial malignancies. The effectiveness of this therapy and its complications are directly related to the proper intracavitary position of the tandem. To date, there has been no objective technique appropriate for routine use in assessing the precise in situ location of these devices, apart from plain abdominal films. As such, little is known about the incidence or types of procedural complications and the sequelae associated with improper tandem placement. Here it is reported that ultrasound is an effective tool for evaluating the in situ position of the intrauterine tandem. Two cases are presented demonstrating important applications of this method.
D000368:Aged; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014463:Ultrasonography; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*