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Updated: Nov 5, 2025

Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Gynecologic Cancer

Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Gynecologic Cancer

Published on: April 17, 2012

Shielded high dose rate ocular brachytherapy using Yb-169.

Justine M Dupere¹, John J Munro², David C Medich¹

¹Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA 01609, United States of America.

Physics in Medicine and Biology

|May 19, 2021

Summary

A new Ytterbium-169 (Yb-169) brachytherapy device offers improved ocular melanoma treatment. This shielded ring applicator delivers a conformal dose, reducing radiation exposure to critical eye structures compared to Iodine-125 (I-125).

Keywords:

COMS MCNP Yb-169 choroidal melanoma eye plaque intensity modulated ocular brachytherapy

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Proton Therapy Delivery and Its Clinical Application in Select Solid Tumor Malignancies

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Published on: February 6, 2019

Area of Science:

Medical Physics
Radiation Oncology
Ophthalmology

Background:

Ocular melanoma treatment traditionally uses Iodine-125 (I-125) brachytherapy plaques.
Existing methods may lead to suboptimal dose conformity and potential damage to healthy ocular tissues.
Advancements in brachytherapy sources and applicator design are needed for improved treatment outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

To introduce and computationally evaluate a novel brachytherapy device for ocular melanoma.
The device utilizes Ytterbium-169 (Yb-169), a medium-energy high dose rate (HDR) source, coupled with a gold shielded ring applicator.
To compare the dosimetric performance of the proposed Yb-169 applicator against a standard I-125 COMS plaque.

Main Methods:

Computational modeling using MCNP6 to simulate dosimetric output.
Design of a Yb-169 ring applicator with discrete sources and a conical collimated opening.
Simulation of various applicator configurations (diameters, angles) for intensity modulation.
Validation against established I-125 plaque dosimetry.

Main Results:

The Yb-169 applicator successfully delivered prescribed doses to target depths (3.5-8.0 mm) and sizes (10-15 mm).
Significant reductions in maximum absorbed dose to critical structures were observed: 5.2% to the lens, 9.3% to the iris, 13.8% to the optic nerve, and 1.3% to the sclera.
The device achieved better dose conformity to the tumor compared to I-125.

Conclusions:

The proposed Yb-169 shielded ring applicator design enhances dose conformity for ocular tumors.
It effectively minimizes radiation dose to surrounding healthy ocular structures.
The use of an HDR Yb-169 source enables remote afterloading, improving safety for surgeons and patients.