CLINICAL-EVALUATION OF AN INTERSTITIAL REMOTE AFTERLOADING DEVICE FORMULTICHANNEL INTRACAVITARY IRRADIATION

Purpose: The purpose of this report is to describe the clinical implem entation and evaluation of an interstitial remote aflter loading devic e for multichannel intracavitary brachytherapy. Methods and Materials: Two 15-channel low dose rate devices were adapted for use with Fletch er-Suit tandem and ovoids and Sinon-Heyman capsules, The technical rec ords for 103 intracavitary brachytherapy procedures performed from Feb ruary 1989 through February 1998 were reviewed, Results: Isodose distr ibutions from fixed source trains for Microselectron low dose rate gyn ecologic applicators closely approximate standard manual afterloading sources and applicators, Device malfunctions occurred in 51% (53 out o f 103) of the procedures, Malfunctions by applicator type were 70% (51 out of 73) for tandem, ovoids, and capsules, 12% (2 out of 17) for ta ndem and ovoids, and none (0 out of 13) for ovoids only, The most comm on malfunction occurred during source transfer, Total implant time was prolonged 0 to 4% by malfunction and 10% by patient care interruption s, depending on applicator type, Conclusion: The adaptation of the Mic roselectron device for multichannel gynecologic intracavitary brachyth erapy results in similar dose distributions as standard manual afterlo ading sources and a decreased radiation exposure to nursing personnel, The system has a high rate of malfunctions but a low overall prolonga tion of implant time due to malfunction.