Background: In contrast to primary radiotherapy, no reports are available for a hydrogel spacer application in postoperative salvage radiotherapy for prostate cancer.
Case Report: A 77-year-old patient presented 20 years after radical prostatectomy with a digitally palpable local recurrence at the urethrovesical anastomosis (PSA 5.5 ng/ml).
Objective: To evaluate the effect of increasing experience on hydrogel dimensions, rectal dose, and acute toxicity, and to discuss important technical issues gained from this experience.
Methods: Sixty-four consecutive patients with prostate cancer were included in this analysis (G1/G2 corresponding to first/second 32 patients) after injection of 10 mL spacer gel. All patients were treated with a 5-field intensity-modulated radiotherapy technique to 76-78 Gy.
Strahlenther Onkol
September 2013
Purpose: Imaging for treatment planning shortly after hydrogel injection is optimal for practical purposes, reducing the number of appointments. The aim was to evaluate the actual difference between early and late imaging.
Patients And Methods: Treatment planning computed tomography (CT) was performed shortly after injection of 10 ml hydrogel (CT1) and 1-2 weeks later (CT2) for 3 patients.
Background And Purpose: The aim was to evaluate the spacer dimensions and prostate position variability during the course of radiotherapy for prostate cancer.
Materials And Methods: CT scans were performed in a group of 15 patients (G1) after the 10 ml injection of a hydrogel spacer (SpaceOAR™) and 30 patients without a spacer (G2) before the beginning of treatment (CT1) and in the last treatment week, 10-12 weeks following spacer implantation (CT2). Spacer dimensions and displacements were determined and prostate displacements compared.
Background: Hydrogel spacer is an innovative method to protect the rectal wall during prostate cancer radiotherapy. Clinical effects are not well known.
Methods: Patients have been surveyed before, at the last day, and 2-3 months after radiotherapy using a validated questionnaire (Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite).