The impact of a rectal hydrogel spacer on dosimetric and toxicity outcomes among patients undergoing combination therapy with external beam radiotherapy and low-dose-rate brachytherapy

摘要

PURPOSE: Rectal hydrogel spacers have been shown to decrease rectal radiation dose and toxicity. In this study, we compared prostate and rectal dosimetry and acute toxicity outcomes in patients who had and had not received a rectal hydrogel spacer prior to combination therapy with external beam radiotherapy and low-dose-rate brachytherapy.