title: A special device (double-hole belly board) and optimal radiation technique to reduce testicular radiation exposure in radiotherapy of rectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients with rectal cancer are treated in prone position on a belly board to reduce the volume of irradiated small bowel. With this technique the testes obtain radiation doses, which often result in partial or complete impairment of the spermatogenesis and a dose-dependent decrease of testosterone levels. We developed a double-hole belly board (DHBB) and evaluated its potential to reduce testicular dose.
  
  
  METHODS
  In nine consecutive male patients (3 very low tumor localisations [inguinal RT], 3 low [RT perineum], 3 high [lower border ischial tuberosities]) CT scans were performed on a conventional single-hole belly board (SHBB) and on a DHBB. Dose-volume histograms of the testes were analysed for both belly boards and for different treatment techniques (3-field and 4-field).
  
  
  RESULTS
  To reduce testicular dose in high tumors, positioning on DHBB was most effective (V(1.5Gy) 20-30% vs. 60% for SHBB, V(4Gy) 7% vs. 35%). In low tumors, a 3-field technique reduced high testicular doses (V(14Gy) 0-6% vs. 28-34% for 4-fields). In very low tumors a combination of DHBB and 3-fields led to a decrease of high dose exposure (V(33Gy) 0% vs. 24-78%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In male patients with rectal cancer the use of a DHBB and a 3-field technique is recommended to reduce testicular radiation exposure.
authors: Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany. h.vorwerk@med.uni-goettingen.de
authors: Hilke
authors: H
authors: Vorwerk
authors: Robert Michael
authors: RM
authors: Hermann
authors: Hans
authors: H
authors: Christiansen
authors: Thorsten
authors: T
authors: Liersch
authors: Clemens Friedrich
authors: CF
authors: Hess
authors: Elisabeth
authors: E
authors: Weiss
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D013737:Testis / Q000528:radiation effects*