A dosimetric comparison of CT- and photogrammetry- generated 3D printed HDR brachytherapy surface applicators.

In this study, we investigate whether an acceptable dosimetric plan can be obtained for a brachytherapy surface applicator designed using photogrammetry and compare the plan quality to a CT-derived applicator. The nose region of a RANDO anthropomorphic phantom was selected as the treatment site due to its high curvature. Photographs were captured using a Nikon D5600 DSLR camera and reconstructed using Agisoft Metashape while CT data was obtained using a Canon Aquillion scanner. Virtual surface applicators were designed in Blender and printed with PLA plastic. Treatment plans with a prescription dose of 3.85 Gy × 10 fractions with 100% dose to PTV on the bridge of the nose at 2 mm depth were generated separately using AcurosBV in the Varian BrachyVision TPS. PTV D, D and V, and OAR D, D and V dose metrics and dwell times were evaluated, with the applicator fit assessed by air-gap volume measurements. Both types of surface applicators were printed with minimal defects and visually fitted well to the target area. The measured air-gap volume between the photogrammetry applicator and phantom surface was 44% larger than the CT-designed applicator, with a mean air gap thickness of 3.24 and 2.88 mm, respectively. The largest difference in the dose metric observed for the PTV and OAR was the PTV V of - 1.27% and skin D of - 0.28%. PTV D and D and OAR D and V for the photogrammetry based plan were all within 0.5% of the CT based plan. Total dwell times were also within 5%. A 3D printed surface applicator for the nose was successfully constructed using photogrammetry techniques. Although it produced a larger air gap between the surface applicator and phantom surface, a clinically acceptable dose plan was created with similar PTV and OAR dose metrics to the CT-designed applicator. Additional future work is required to comprehensively evaluate its suitability in a clinically environment.