Decrease in uterine perforations with ultrasound image-guided applicator insertion in intracavitary brachytherapy for cervical cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: To estimate uterine perforations rates during intracavitary brachytherapy for cervical cancer with and without ultrasound (US) image guidance.

Materials And Methods: A systematic search of databases (PubMed and EMBASE) was performed. The pooled summary uterine perforation rate (detected by postinsertion CT or MRI) for the un-guided insertion group and the guided insertion group was calculated by using the random-effects model weighted by the inverse variance.

18-F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography evaluation of early metabolic response during radiation therapy for cervical cancer.

Purpose: To document changes in cervical tumor (18)-F-fluorodeoxyglocose (FDG) uptake during radiation therapy and to correlate those changes with post-treatment tumor response and survival outcome.

Methods And Materials: A total of 36 patients with Stage Ib1 to IIIb cervical cancer were enrolled in an institutional protocol examining the use of fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) for brachytherapy treatment planning. As part of this study, FDG-PET or PET/computed tomograpy (CT) images were obtained before, during, and after the completion of radiation therapy.

Combined intensity-modulated radiation therapy and brachytherapy in the treatment of cervical cancer.

Purpose: This treatment planning study compared pseudo-step-wedge intensity modulation (PSWIM), intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), and conventional external irradiation, all combined with brachytherapy, for treatment of patients with cervical cancer.

Methods And Materials: This was a prospective study of 10 patients treated with PSWIM delivering 50.4 Gy to the pelvic lymph nodes and 20 Gy to the cervical tumor.