Individualized 3D-printed templates for high-dose-rate interstitial multicathether brachytherapy in patients with breast cancer

Purpose

High-dose-rate, multicatheter interstitial brachytherapy is technically complex and operator-dependent, requiring lengthy training and specialized skills. Furthermore, until the advent of contouring on computerized tomography (CT) images, difficulties existed in locating the target volume precisely. The present article reports the results of a study that aimed at producing and validating a 3D-printed template to aid in target volume localization for multicatheter interstitial brachytherapy in patients with breast cancer.

Methods and Materials

Thirteen patients, candidates for accelerated partial breast irradiation or boost, were enrolled in the study. The target volume was defined on CT slices, and a template with empty spaces corresponding to the target volume projection on the patient's skin was produced by a 3D printer. The procedure was compared with the standard method followed in our center (1) visually, by assessing overlap between the target volume projections on the patient's skin, (2) by X-ray findings, and (3) by intraclass correlation coefficient.

Results

Visual assessment and X-ray findings showed the 3D-printed target volume always fell within the standard volume in all 13 patients. The intraclass correlation coefficient indicated moderate agreement for both the medial and the lateral skin projections.

Conclusions

The 3-D printed templates constitute a quick, easy, and reliable method to localize the target volume for high-dose-rate interstitial multicathether brachytherapy in patients with breast cancer and can safely be used in clinical practice.