Dosimetric variations in permanent breast seed implant due to patient arm position.
OBJECTIVE
Planning and delivery for permanent breast seed implant (PBSI) are performed with the ipsilateral arm raised; however, changes in implant geometry can be expected because of healing and anatomical motion as the patient resumes her daily activities. The purpose of this study is to quantify the effect of ipsilateral arm position on postplan dosimetry.


METHODS
Twelve patients treated at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre were included in this study. Patients underwent two postimplant CT scans on the day of implant (Day 0) and two scans approximately 8 weeks later (Day 60). One scan at each time was taken with the ipsilateral arm raised, recreating the planning scan position, and the other with both arms down in a relaxed position beside the body, recreating a more realistic postimplant arm position. Postplans were completed on all four scans using deformable image registration (MIM Maestro).


RESULTS
On the Day 0 scan, the V200 for the evaluation planning target volume was significantly increased in the arm-down position compared with the arm-up position. Lung, rib, and chest wall dose were significantly reduced at both time points. Left anterior descending coronary artery, heart, and skin dose showed no significant differences at either time point.


CONCLUSIONS
Although some dosimetric indices show significant differences between the arm-up and arm-down positions, the magnitude of these differences is small and the values remain indicative of implant quality. Despite the delivery of the majority of dose with the arm down, it is reasonable to use CT scans taken in the arm-up position for postplanning.
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Medical Physics, Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Electronic address: elizabeth.watt@albertahealthservices.ca.
Elizabeth
E
Watt
Department of Oncology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Radiation Oncology, Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Siraj
S
Husain
Department of Oncology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Radiation Oncology, Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Michael
M
Sia
Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA.
Derek
D
Brown
Department of Radiation Therapy, Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Karen
K
Long
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Medical Physics, Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Oncology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Tyler
T
Meyer
D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000379:methods; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D056888:Patient Positioning; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Brachytherapy; Deformable image registration; Dosimetry; Permanent breast seed implant