ABSORBABLE MESH IN PLACEMENT OF TEMPORARY IMPLANTS

Purpose: To evaluate absorbable mesh for the suturing of afterloading chatters in patients with tumors involving the chest wall. Methods and Materials: Patients underwent thoracotomy and resection of tumor; a l ayer of absorbable mesh was then sutured to the tumor bed. Nylon flexi guide afterloading catheters were sutured into the mesh at about 1.5 c m distance from each other. A second layer of mesh was then sutured on top of the catheters. The chest wall was closed. Orthogonal radiograp hs and CT scans of the area of implants were done to verify catheter p osition in each patient on day 1 and on the last day of implant. Compu ter dosimetry by digitization of dummy sources was performed on each s et of radiographs. The same seed for both sets of films was chosen as the origin of digitization. All seed coordinates were compared directl y to offset for any rotation of the patient during the two sets of fil ms. The distances were calculated from all seed positions to the origi n, then tabulated and compared. Results: The distances agreed within a few millimeters (7-8 mm). The differences may be attributed to the pa tient's breathing and to the localization uncertainty. The resulting d ose alteration was negligible. Conclusion: This technique appears to p rovide adequate anchorage of catheters with resulting constant seed po sition and dose distribution in areas of scant tissues or in surgical beds of considerable size.