Impact of target volume coverage with Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 98-05 guidelines for transrectal ultrasound guided permanent Iodine-125 prostate implants.
OBJECTIVE
Despite the wide use of permanent prostate implants for the treatment of early stage prostate cancer, there is no consensus for optimal pre-implant planning guidelines that results in maximal post-implant target coverage. The purpose of this study was to compare post-implant target volume coverage and dosimetry between patients treated before and after Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 98-05 guidelines were adopted using several dosimetric endpoints.


METHODS
Ten consecutively treated patients before the adoption of the RTOG 98-05 planning guidelines were compared with ten consecutively treated patients after implementation of the guidelines. Pre-implant planning for patients treated pre-RTOG was based on the clinical target volume (CTV) defined by the pre-implant TRUS definition of the prostate. The CTV was expanded in each dimension according to RTOG 98-05 and defined as the planning target volume. The evaluation target volume was defined as the post-implant computed tomography definition of the prostate based on RTOG 98-05 protocol recommendations. Implant quality indicators included V(100), V(90), V(100), and Coverage Index (CI).


RESULTS
The pre-RTOG median V(100), V(90), D(90), and CI values were 82.8, 88.9%, 126.5 Gy, and 17.1, respectively. The median post-RTOG V(100), V(90), D(90), and CI values were 96.0, 97.8%, 169.2 Gy, and 4.0, respectively. These differences were all statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Implementation of the RTOG 98-05 implant planning guidelines has increased coverage of the prostate by the prescription isodose lines compared with our previous technique, as indicated by post-implant dosimetry indices such as V(100), V(90), D(90). The CI was also improved significantly with the protocol guidelines. Our data confirms the validity of the RTOG 98-05 implant guidelines for pre-implant planning as it relates to enlargement of the CTV to ensure adequate margin between the CTV and the prescription isodose lines.
Horwitz
Eric M
EM
Department of Radiation Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, 7701 Burholme Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
Mitra
Raj K
RK
Uzzo
Robert G
RG
Das
Indra J
IJ
Pinover
Wayne H
WH
Hanlon
Alexandra L
AL
McNeeley
Shawn W
SW
Hanks
Gerald E
GE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000379:methods*; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes