Intraoperative implantation of a mesh of directional palladium sources (CivaSheet): Dosimetry verification, clinical commissioning, dose specification, and preliminary experience.

Purpose: To present the clinical commissioning of a novel Pd directional brachytherapy device (CivaSheet) for intraoperative radiation therapy.

Methods And Materials: Clinical commissioning for the CivaSheet consisted of establishing: (1) source strength calibration capabilities, (2) experimental verification of TG-43 dosimetry parameters, (3) treatment planning system validation, and (4) departmental practice for dose specification and source ordering. Experimental verification was performed in water with radiochromic film calibrated with a 37 kVp X-ray beam.

CyberKnife Boost for Patients with Cervical Cancer Unable to Undergo Brachytherapy.

Standard radiation therapy for patients undergoing primary chemosensitized radiation for carcinomas of the cervix usually consists of external beam radiation followed by an intracavitary brachytherapy boost. On occasion, the brachytherapy boost cannot be performed due to unfavorable anatomy or because of coexisting medical conditions. We examined the safety and efficacy of using CyberKnife stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) as a boost to the cervix after external beam radiation in those patients unable to have brachytherapy to give a more effective dose to the cervix than with conventional external beam radiation alone.