Date Approved

7-2020

Graduate Degree Type

Project

Degree Name

Medical Dosimetry (M.S.)

Degree Program

Diagnostic & Treatment Sciences

First Advisor

Kristen Vu

Academic Year

2019/2020

Abstract

Introduction: Hypofractionated treatment delivery regimens are associated with better overall long-term disease control for prostate cancer. For patients with high-risk disease, there may be an indication for treatment of the surrounding pelvic lymph nodes for better over-all disease control. In order to achieve a hypofractionated regimen with treatment to the surrounding pelvic lymph nodes a simultaneous integrated boost technique is employed. There are concerns regarding achievability of target dose coverage and limitation of dose to the surrounding organs at risk with this fractionation.

Methods: This study is a retrospective dosimetric analysis of 7 randomly selected patients with high-risk prostate cancer. Each patient had a CT simulation performed, and two comparative treatment plans created, one with a conventional technique, the other with a hypofractionated technique.

Results: The results indicated that there was not a significant difference between target dose coverage and dose to surrounding organs at risk with the use of a hypofractionated treatment regimen with simultaneous integrated boost as compared to a conventional regimen with sequential boost. Use of a hypofractionated regimen with simultaneous integrated boost is a viable regimen to choose for patients with prostate cancer and indication of need for radiation to the surrounding pelvic lymph nodes.

Conclusion: Hypofractionated treatment regimens offer patients better long-term biochemical disease-free survival. Although patients may experience acute side effects earlier, and at an increased level, those side effects typically resolve more quickly than with conventional treatment delivery.

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