High-dose-rate brachytherapy using inverse planning optimization with tandem and ovoid applicators for locally...

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dosimetric advantage of inverse planning optimization (IPO) in locally advanced cervical cancer using high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy (BT). IPO was compared with point A plan and geometric optimization (GO). The three planning methods were evaluated using doses to the virtual organ-at-risk (OAR) and D90 (the minimum dose covering of 90% of the volume) to the virtual high-risk clinical target volume (HR-CTV) based on quantitative analysis. HR-CTV structures measuring 38.5 cm³ and 59.5 cm³ were created based on the outcomes of a European Group cohort study. The HR-CTVs were located either at the center of the cervix (cervical center model) or shifted toward the left (extensive disease model). The distances from the HR-CTVs to the rectum were set at 0 mm, 3 mm, 5 mm, 8 mm, 10 mm, and 15 mm. We analyzed 336 conditions in this study. All doses were evaluated by conversion to doses in 2-Gy fractions of conventional radiotherapy. The D90 of the HR-CTV using GO and IPO could achieve the desired dose in all conditions, providing better results than that of point A plan. IPO makes it possible to deliver a sufficient dose for the D90 of the HR-CTV while reducing OAR doses with smaller HR-CTV values (< 38.5 cm³) in HDR BT. However, taking into consideration the whole treatment planning time, IPO should be used only when the HR-CTV-to-rectum distance is ≤ 5 mm, and the use of GO cannot spare OARs.