treatment accuracy and reproducibility

Question 1

what patients may find a breath hold hard

Answer 1

lung cancer patients, smokers, elderly and patients with diseases like copd

Question 2

How did active breath holding work?

Answer 2

The patient breaths in and when the maximum expiator is met the gated respirometer shut immobilising the patient’s breathing. This was very distressing for patients and now is not used,

Question 3

in breast patients…

how does surface tracking work

Answer 3

cctv cameras that reconstruct the patients anatomical structures whilst the patient passively holds there breath. The isocentre coordinates are needed and the patient outline.

Question 4

what is vision RT

Answer 4

tracking the surface anatomy of a patient

Question 5

what is the function of prostate spacers and how do they work?

Answer 5

the function is to push the rectum away from the prostate so you can dose escalate the prostate.

It works by passing a needle transperinally which releases a gel. The gel solidifies which fixes the prostate in place.

Question 6

what is the benefit of prostate spaces

Answer 6

1. helps preserve pelvic nerves thus reducing the chance of erectile dysfunction.
2. can dose escalate to the prostate
3. less worry of rectal filling

Question 7

what is the purpose of implanted fiducial markers?

Answer 7

radio-opaque markers that can be seen on x-ray help locate the tumour surrogate location

Question 8

where are fiducials most commonly used

Answer 8

prostate (would be 3 fiducials)