Poster - Thurs Eve-02: 3 dimensional ultrasound-guided breast brachytherapy

P DeJean; L Beaulieu; A Fenster

doi:10.1118/1.2965921

Poster - Thurs Eve-02: 3 dimensional ultrasound-guided breast brachytherapy

Med Phys. 2008 Jul;35(7Part2):3401-3402. doi: 10.1118/1.2965921.

Authors

P DeJean^{1

2}, L Beaulieu³, A Fenster^{1

2

4}

Affiliations

¹ Imaging Research Labs, Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON.
² Department of Medical Biophysics, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON.
³ Centre de Recherche en Cancerologie Universite Laval, QC.
⁴ Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON.

PMID: 28512821
DOI: 10.1118/1.2965921

Abstract

Breast cancer is one of Canada's leading causes of death, taking the lives of approximately 5000 people annually. Breast-conserving tumour excision, or lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy is becoming an increasingly common treatment method for smaller tumours. High dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy is a precise form of radiation delivery following surgery involving the delivery of radiation dose through an HDR afterloader attached to catheters inserted into the breast. Currently, a CT scan of the patient is taken to properly reconstruct the tumour and guide catheter insertion. We propose to use our three-dimensional ultrasound (3DUS) scanner as the primary treatment planning device, eliminating the need for a CT scan. This would greatly increase patient comfort along with saving time and money. We have designed and constructed a 3DUS scanner specifically to be used in breast brachytherapy. It attaches to a Kuske breast application kit already used in the clinic. Software to view 3DUS images produced by the device is already being used, and needle guidance software is currently being developed. Laboratory tests on agar phantoms are set to begin shortly to evaluate the precision of the device and perform brachytherapy catheter insertion simulations. When the results of these tests are satisfactory, a full brachytherapy procedure will be performed in Quebec City using the 3DUS scanner.

Keywords: Brachytherapy; Cancer; Computed tomography; Dosimetry; Image scanners; Medical treatment planning; Radiation therapy; Radiation therapy equipment; Radiation treatment; Ultrasonography.