Clinical Aspects of Treatment Planning in Barotherapy

Journal Article · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1962 · Australasian Radiology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1673.1962.tb01101.x· OSTI ID:4086916

Kerr, R. C.

The technique of barotherapy, the irradiation treatment of patients within a pressure vessel breathing oxygen under pressure during the x-ray treatment, is described. Initially, the radiation dose consisted of three fractions of 1000 rad minute tumor dose (min TD) given on days 0, 7, and 21, except for cerebral tumors, which received two fractions of 1000 rad min TD on days 0 and 7. More recently the dose has been reduced to three fractions of 800 rad on days 0, 7, and 21. It is stressed that this dose and fractionation represents radical local radiotherapy with curative intent and therefore treatment volumes must be limited to prevent local tissue tolerance or patient tolerance being exceeded. An arbitrary upper limit in treatment volume of 10 x 10 x 10 cm or its equivalent was used. The patient is anesthetized, an endotracheal tube passed, and a bilateral myringotomy is performed. Compression in the chamber is then commenced, the rate of compression used being 5 psi/min, taking approximately 9 min to compress up to 45 psi, gage pressure (4 atm). During this time the patient's position is checked in the pressurized vessel and any slight adjustments of longitudinal, lateral, or vertical positions are made under pressure. The patient is kept at 45 psi for 10 minutes before commencing treatment to ensure better oxygenation of the tumor. X-ray treatment times range from 8 to 25 min, depending on the number of fields and whether wedge filters are used. ECG, respiration, and other bioelectric information are monitored throughout treatment.

• Research Organization: Peter MacCallum Clinic, Melbourne
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-18-013587
• OSTI ID: 4086916
• Journal Information: Australasian Radiology, Journal Name: Australasian Radiology Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 6; ISSN 0004-8461
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BRAIN
MAN
MEDICINE
OXYGEN
QUANTITY RATIO
RADIATION DOSES
RADIOTHERAPY
TUMORS
X RADIATION