title: A basic treatment equivalent for high-dose-rate gynaecological brachytherapy--a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this pilot study were to assess the factors that were predictive of high-dose-rate (HDR) gynaecological brachytherapy duration and to model them using previously described Basic Treatment Equivalent (BTE) methodology.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective single arm pilot study that aimed to enrol 20 patients from two centres. Patient, tumour and treatment factors were recorded. The duration of each component of brachytherapy was recorded. Univariate and bivariate analyses were conducted to identify factors that predicted overall brachytherapy duration. The generalized estimating equations method was used to derive an equation that predicted the duration of brachytherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data were collected for 20 patients who underwent 53 episodes of brachytherapy, either as part of definitive radiotherapy (tandem and ovoids) or post-operatively (vaginal cylinder). Factors that were predictive of overall duration were technique (tandem and ovoids vs vaginal cylinder, P = 0.0007), treatment intention (definitive vs post-operative, P = 0.0001), type of plan (individual vs standard, P = 0.0001), hospital (1 vs 2, P = 0.0001) and body mass index (P = 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates the feasibility of examining factors that influence the duration of gynaecological brachytherapy using BTE methodology. To develop a reliable model, a larger multicentre study is needed. Such a model will allow comparisons of efficiency and more accurate assessment of treatment capacity between centres.
authors.affiliation: Collaboration for Cancer Outcomes, Research & Evaluation, Liverpool Health Service, Locked Bag 7103, Liverpool BC, NSW 1871, Australia. shalini.vinod@swsahs.nsw.gov.au
authors.forename: Shalini K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Vinod
authors.forename: Geoff P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Delaney
authors.forename: Bin B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Jalaludin
authors.forename: Craig A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Macleod
authors.forename: Allan R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Fowler
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Barton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000379:methods*; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013810:Therapeutic Equivalency; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*