Physical aspects of interstitial therapy using flexible iridium-192 wire

Area of Science:

• Medical Physics
• Radiation Oncology
• Radiotherapy Dosimetry

Background:

• Curved multi-wire implants are utilized in radiotherapy for precise dose delivery.
• Calculating accurate dose distributions for non-ideal implant geometries presents challenges.
• Minimizing staff radiation exposure and treatment costs are critical considerations in radiotherapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a semi-automated procedure for calculating point doses and isodose distributions for curved multi-wire implants.
• To present a dose optimization method for achieving acceptable dose distributions from non-ideal implants.
• To discuss the dosimetry of such implants and introduce efficient source management strategies.

Main Methods:

• Development of a semi-automated procedure for dose and isodose distribution calculations.
• Implementation of a dose optimization algorithm for non-ideal implant configurations.
• Description of source preparation, handling, and stock control for encapsulated wire reuse.

Main Results:

• The described procedure enables accurate calculation of point doses and isodose distributions.
• The dose optimization method yields acceptable dose distributions even from non-ideal implants.
• Source reuse significantly reduces staff radiation exposure and treatment costs.

Conclusions:

• A practical and efficient semi-automated method for curved multi-wire implant dosimetry has been established.
• Dose optimization strategies improve the clinical applicability of non-ideal implants.
• Implementing reusable source protocols enhances safety and cost-effectiveness in brachytherapy.