skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Positional Stability of Electromagnetic Transponders Used for Prostate Localization and Continuous, Real-Time Tracking

Journal Article · · International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [4];  [4];  [4];  [4]
  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando, Orlando, FL (United States)
  3. Calypso Medical Technologies, Inc., Seattle, WA (United States)
  4. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA (United States)

Purpose: To determine the relative positional stability of implanted glass-encapsulated circuits (transponders) used in continuous electromagnetic localization and tracking of target volumes during radiation therapy. Ideally, the distances between transponders remains constant over the course of treament. In this work, we evaluate the accuracy of these conditions. Methods and Materials: Three transponders were implanted in each of 20 patients. Images (CT scan or X-ray pair) were acquired at 13 time points. These images occurred from the day of implant (2 weeks before simulation) to 4 weeks posttreatment. The distance between transponders was determined from each dataset. The average and standard deviation of each distance were determined, and changes were evaluated over several time periods, including pretreatment and during therapy. Results: Of 60 transponders implanted, 58 showed no significant migration from their intended positions. Of the two transponders that did migrate, one appears to have been implanted in the venous plexus, and the other in the urethra, with no clinical consequences to the patients. An analysis that included the planning CT scan and all subsequent distance measurements showed that the standard deviation of intertransponder distances was {<=}1.2 mm for up to 1 month after the completion of therapy. Conclusions: Implanted transponders demonstrate the same long-term stability characteristics as implanted gold markers, within statistical uncertainties. As with gold markers, and using the same implant procedure, basic guidelines for the placement of transponders within the prostate help ensure minimal migration.

OSTI ID:
20953573
Journal Information:
International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, Vol. 68, Issue 4; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2007.03.030; PII: S0360-3016(07)00499-3; Copyright (c) 2007 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, Netherlands, All rights reserved; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0360-3016
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English