A novel perineal shield for low-dose-rate prostate brachytherapy

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiation Oncology
• Surgical Instrumentation

Background:

• Low-dose-rate prostate brachytherapy involves radiation exposure risks for medical staff.
• Protecting healthcare professionals from radiation is crucial during brachytherapy procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a newly designed perineal shield in reducing staff radiation exposure during prostate brachytherapy.
• To quantify the impact of the shield on radiation levels at various points around the brachytherapy grid.

Main Methods:

• A 1 mm thick stainless steel perineal shield was designed to fit over a standard brachytherapy grid.
• Radiation exposure measurements were taken with and without the shield in 15 patients undergoing Iodine-125 seed placement.
• Statistical analysis using paired t-tests compared exposure levels, with p < 0.05 considered significant.

Main Results:

• The shield reduced radiation exposure significantly at the midline grid (p < 0.0001), left (p < 0.0001), and right (p < 0.0001) of the template.
• Median exposure reduction at the grid was 76% midline, 98.5% left, and 99% right.
• Exposure reduction 25 cm from the perineum ranged from 73.7% to 81.6% (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

• The novel perineal shield is easily and quickly installed, non-restrictive during procedures.
• The shield provides a substantial reduction in radiation exposure, at least four-fold, for brachytherapists.
• This device enhances safety for staff involved in low-dose-rate prostate brachytherapy.