A simple, inexpensive applicator for irradiation of localized areas of the vagina with intracavitary brachytherapy.

Purpose: To describe the construction of a simple, inexpensive applicator for irradiation of localized areas of the vagina with intracavitary brachytherapy.

Methods And Materials: It was desirable to avoid an interstitial implant in an elderly patient with a stage T2 vaginal cancer. The final phase of radiation therapy was delivered with a custom made intracavitary cylinder that allowed the high-dose area to be limited to the portion of the vagina at high risk for residual disease.

Arytenoid sparing during irradiation of early stage vocal cord cancer.

Purpose: Optimal position of the posterior field border when irradiating early stage vocal cord cancer is controversial. Several experts recommend moving the posterior field border 5-15 mm anteriorly after 50-60 Gy to decrease the chance of arytenoid edema. This article will evaluate the effect of field position on arytenoid dose.

Treatment of the intact breast using tangent split beam fields and half 15 degree wedges as tissue compensators.

A 15 degree wedge inserted half way into the radiation field can be used effectively as a tissue compensator, in some cases reducing dose inhomogeneity by as much as 25%. The 15 degrees half wedge dosimetry and its application to a specific therapy technique is discussed in this article.