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Rectal retractor in prostate radiotherapy: pros and cons
Hamed Ghaffari1, Arezoo Mehrabian2
1Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. hamedghaffari@yahoo.com.
Radiation Oncology (London, England)
|December 9, 2022
Summary
Rectal retractors (RR) offer a novel solution to increase rectal-prostate distance in prostate radiotherapy (RT), potentially improving dose delivery and reducing toxicity. This editorial explores the opportunities and challenges associated with using RRs in external beam radiotherapy (EBRT).
Area of Science:
- Radiation Oncology
- Medical Physics
- Surgical Technology
Background:
- Dose escalation in prostate radiotherapy (RT) improves outcomes but is limited by rectal toxicity due to the prostate's proximity to the anterior rectal wall (ARW).
- Technological advancements in RT have not fully resolved rectal toxicity, necessitating innovative approaches to manage this dose-limiting challenge.
Discussion:
- Rectal retractors (RR) physically increase the space between the prostate and the ARW, offering a potential solution to overcome rectal dose constraints.
- While endorectal balloons and hydrogel spacers have been explored, this editorial focuses on the emerging application and considerations for RRs in prostate external beam radiotherapy (EBRT).
Key Insights:
- RR presents a promising physical method to mitigate rectal toxicity in prostate RT.
- Understanding the specific opportunities and challenges of RR application in EBRT is crucial for its clinical adoption.
Outlook:
- Further investigation into the practical aspects and clinical efficacy of RRs in prostate EBRT is warranted.
- Optimizing RR use could enable higher RT doses, leading to enhanced cancer control and reduced metastasis risk.
