A 3D-Printed Patient-Specific Phantom for External Beam Radiation Therapy of Prostate Cancer

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiotherapy Technology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Current radiotherapy planning lacks patient-specific phantoms for accurate treatment validation.
• Existing phantoms do not adequately replicate individual prostate cancer anatomy, including critical structures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design, fabricate, and test a novel, patient-specific 3D printed phantom for prostate cancer external beam radiation therapy.
• To validate the phantom's utility in treatment planning and quality assurance using advanced imaging and dosimetry.

Main Methods:

• Developed a patient-specific phantom using 3D printing based on MRI data of the prostate, seminal vesicles, urethra, and surrounding structures.
• Created and delivered an external beam radiation therapy plan using the CyberKnife System.
• Validated treatment accuracy using radiochromic film measurements and gamma index calculations.

Main Results:

• Successfully designed and fabricated a patient- and organ-specific 3D printed phantom.
• Achieved a 99.8% passing rate in gamma index calculations, confirming accurate radiation dose delivery.
• Demonstrated the phantom's capability for integrating MRI into CT-based radiotherapy planning.

Conclusions:

• The developed 3D printed phantom is a viable tool for personalized prostate cancer radiotherapy.
• This methodology enhances treatment planning accuracy and quality assurance for external beam radiation therapy.
• The phantom facilitates the integration of high-contrast MRI data into CT-based treatment planning workflows.