The use of lymphoscintigraphy in treatment planning of primary breast cancer. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • A technique is described for the use of lymphoscintigraphy in treatment planning of primary breast patients. During simulation of the treatment fields, the positions of the internal mammary nodes are projected back toward the source onto the patient skin surface and are marked by radio-opaque markers for visualization on films. Exact solutions for the coordinates of these surface projection points are derived. Approximate solutions are also given which are independent of the isocenter location and primarily dependent on the treatment field gantry angle. If a typical couch angle and field size are assumed, the projection points can be calculated for various gantry angles prior to simulation. Generally, a decision can then be made beforehand whether it would be better to use deep tangents or a separate field to treat the internal mammary nodes. During simulation, the surface projection points serve as visual and fluoroscopic guides to field design and optimization. A method is also presented for projecting the internal mammary node positions onto a single transverse patient contour for conventional 2-dimensional treatment planning. By accurately showing the projected location of the node with respect to the field edge, adequate treatment margin can be assured.

publication date

  • September 1, 1989

Research

keywords

  • Breast Neoplasms
  • Lymph Nodes
  • Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted
  • Radiotherapy, Computer-Assisted

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0024469417

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1016/0360-3016(89)90112-0

PubMed ID

  • 2777648

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 17

issue

  • 3