title: Evaluation of the use of computed tomography versus conventional orthogonal X-ray simulation in the treatment of rectal cancer.
abstract: The aim of this study is to compare and contrast the treatment fields designed using CT versus conventional orthogonal X-ray simulation in the treatment of patients with rectal cancer given preoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Nine patients participated in this study. The coverage of treatment fields, the volume of treatment fields, and the position of the anorectal junction in relation to the inferior border of the obturator foramen as the delineator of the pelvic floor were evaluated in each patient using CT and conventional orthogonal X-ray simulation. The results demonstrated undercoverage of the anterior border of the lateral fields of up to 2.5 cm in seven of nine patients when conventional orthogonal X-ray simulation was compared to CT simulation. In addition, the inferior border of the obturator foramen proved to be a poor delineator of the pelvic floor with the anorectal junction situated up to 2 cm superiorly in seven of nine patients. In conclusion, CT simulation is superior to conventional orthogonal X-ray simulation when designing treatment fields for patients with rectal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. mchao@radoncvic.com.au
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gibbs
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tjandra
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Darben
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lim-Joon
authors.forename: I T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed