ESTRO 2024 - Abstract Book

S243

Brachytherapy - Gynaecology

ESTRO 2024

3. Otter S, Franklin A, Ajaz M, Stewart A. Improving the efficiency of image guided brachytherapy in cervical cancer. J Contemp Brachytherapy. 2016 Dec;8(6):557-565. doi: 10.5114/jcb.2016.64452. Epub 2016 Dec 6. PMID: 28115963; PMCID: PMC5241377. 4. Pötter R, Haie-Meder C, Van Limbergen E, Barillot I, Brabandere MD, Dimopoulos J, et al. Recommendations from gynaecological (GYN) GEC ESTRO working group (II): Concepts and terms in 3D image-based treatment planning in cervix cancer brachytherapy—3D dose volume parameters and aspects of 3D image-based anatomy, radiation physics, radiobiology. Radiother Oncol [Internet]. 2006;78(1):67–77.

699

Digital Poster

Gynecological brachytherapy hybrid training: The Tata Memorial Centre and BrachyAcademy experience

Elena Dizendorf 1 , Supriya Chopra 2 , Prachi Mittal 3 , Ankita Gupta 2 , Meenakshi Jeeva 2 , Jeevanshu Jain 2 , Subhajit Panda 2 , Ritu Raj Upreti 3 , Yogesh Ghadi 3 , Akshay Bhavke 4 , Satish Kohle 3 , Rajesh Bhajbhuje 2 , Jai Prakash Agarwal 3 1 Elekta, Brachy Solutions, Veenendaal, Netherlands. 2 Advanced Centre for Treatment Research and Education in Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Homi Bhabha National Institute, Department of Radiation Oncology, Mumbai, India. 3 Tata Memorial Hospital, Tata Memorial Centre, Homi Bhabha National Institute, Department of Radiation Oncology and Medical Physics, Mumbai, India. 4 Advanced Centre for Treatment Research and Education in Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Homi Bhabha National Institute, 3D Printing Lab, Mumbai, India

Purpose/Objective:

Brachytherapy (BT) plays an essential role in the treatment of gynecological cancers; however, advances in BT are yet to be optimally utilized. The lack of training is one of the biggest barriers to practice brachytherapy. According to recent surveys in Europe and India, hands-on courses and online modules were mentioned by radiation oncologists (RO) as preferable teaching methods to improve BT training and transition (1, 2). Tata Memorial Centre and BrachyAcademy, a non-profit peer-to-peer educational initiative at Elekta, developed a hybrid gynecological BT training (live hands-on course and continued virtual course) in Mumbai in 2022-23. This study describes the organization of this training, evaluates its efficiency and potential areas for improvement.

Material/Methods:

Course participants were RO and medical physicists (MP) with experience in gynecological BT (at least, 2D) and intention to make a transition towards image-guided brachytherapy. A pre-course survey was sent to the attendees to understand the existing experience and level of confidence in gynecological brachytherapy, and the status of BT practice in their centers. The training scope included cervical, endometrial, vaginal, vulvar, periurethral cancers, and pelvic reirradiation. The continued virtual course consisted of online pre- and post-course homework on contouring and treatment planning (TP) of a locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) clinical case, full procedural videos for hybrid intracavitary/interstitial (IC/IS) applicators, interstitial applicators, and free hand implants. The live course included hands-on training on pelvic mannequins using 3D printed applicators, applicator commissioning, target delineation and treatment planning exercises using Oncentra Brachy treatment planning system. Participants were asked to fill in a questionnaire after the live course and return at the end of the course.

To help the participants to transit to the advanced brachytherapy practice and understand their current situation, we organized a short online survey and a follow-up call at 6 months after the live course.