Optimal bladder volume at treatment planning for prostate cancer patients receiving volumetric modulated arc therapy.

Purpose: To investigate optimal bladder volumes at treatment planning (TP) in prostate cancer patients who undergo volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT).

Methods And Materials: To determine the minimum value, 122 patients were classified into 6 groups according to the bladder volume at TP: <100 mL (group 1), 100-149 mL (group 2), 150-199 mL (group 3), 200-249 mL (group 4), 250-299 mL (group 5), and ≥300 mL (group 6). Bladder volumes receiving more than 70 Gy (V) and V were calculated in each subgroup and compared with the bladder dose-volume constraints specified in our institution. To determine the maximum value, 64 patients who underwent uniform nursing interventions were classified into the same 6 groups. Bladder volumes on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images were measured once weekly during treatment, for a total of 8 measurements. Relative bladder volumes (bladder volume on CBCT image [mL]/bladder volume at TP [mL] × 100%) were evaluated in each of the 6 subgroups.

Results: The upper bounds of the 95% confidence intervals of the mean V and V values in group 1 exceeded the dose constraints at our institution. The mean relative bladder volumes were 104%, 91%, 77%, 81%, 63%, and 59% in groups 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively. The institutional criterion of 70% for the mean relative bladder volume was achieved in groups 1-4, but it could not be achieved in groups 5-6. Therefore, the patients in groups 2-4 met both institutional dose constraints for the bladder at TP and the institutional criterion for the mean relative bladder volume during treatment.

Conclusions: The optimal bladder volumes at TP were between 100 and 250 mL in this setting. Nursing intervention needs to be implemented before treatment planning to ensure that patients achieve the optimal bladder volume range.