Description:

3D Printed Bolus Design for Rapidly Changing Head & Neck Tumours (11:00 - 11:35)
Gillian Ecclestone, M.Sc, MRT(T) - Tom Baker Cancer Centre

A successful and accurately delivered external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) course is based on the assumption that the CT images used for treatment planning are representative of a patient's anatomy during their entire course of treatment. Major anatomical changes during the course of treatment can lead to a variable and uncertain dose to the intended treatment target as well as surrounding critical structures. Although necessary, accounting for large anatomical changes seen during treatment can be resource intensive. It also introduces unwanted gaps and delays during treatment as time is needed to acquire new scans, create new treatment plans, immobilization devices and forensically reproduce the dose delivered to a changing target.  

This presentation outlines bolus fabrication and treatment planning techniques for superficial head and neck cancers so no re-planning is necessary in the presence of target deformation. This is achieved via simple patient specific 3D printed shells combined with malleable commercially available tissue equivalent products surrounding the target. The main objective of this presentation is to provide the learner with enough technical knowledge on 3D printing for superficial head and neck cancers to execute the presented techniques and/or provide enough insight on how procedures could be adapted based on the available infrastructure. Assessment and decision making tools for radiation therapists to identify patient cohorts that would benefit from these specific bolus techniques will be discussed. Treatment planning considerations will be outlined as well as numerous clinical examples to reinforce the learning objectives outlined above.

This session will be 25 minutes (20 minute presentation with 5 minutes of Q&A)

The Use of a Minimum Bladder Volume Structure for Prostate Cancer External Beam Radiation Therapy (11:25 - 11:50)
James Sidney, Radiation Therapist - BC Cancer

• Summarize typical current practices and potential alternatives for bladder volume assessment when bladder is an organ at risk with radiation therapy
• Discuss the benefits of the bladdermin as a patient specific bladder volume assessment tool for prostate cancer patients
• Demonstrate case studies where the use of the Bladdermin tool can lead to increased efficiency of treatment imaging, delivery and safer treatment for patients

This session will be 25 minutes (20 minute presentation with 5 minutes of Q&A)