Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33791816›Full record

ArticleStrahlentherapie und Onkologie : Organ der Deutschen Rontgengesellschaft ... [et al]2021

Dosimetric comparison of volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) for superficial skin irradiation with significant curvature in one or more planes.

Rachel J Wills, Gerry Lowe, Caroline L Jones, Peter J Hoskin

Abstract readComparative StudyMulticenter Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Strahlentherapie und Onkologie : Organ der Deutschen Rontgengesellschaft ... [et al], 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.6field-weighted citation impact, top 18% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. AAPM medical physics practice guideline 13.a: HDR brachytherapy, part B.Journal of applied clinical medical physics · 2025
    Guideline
  2. Article
  3. Brooke-Spiegler syndrome: radiotherapy as the last resort?Strahlentherapie und Onkologie : Organ der Deutschen Rontgengesellschaft ... [et al] · 2023
    Article
  4. Article
  5. The value of brachytherapy in the age of advanced external beam radiotherapy: a review of the literature in terms of dosimetry.Strahlentherapie und Onkologie : Organ der Deutschen Rontgengesellschaft ... [et al] · 2022
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Rachel J WillsMount Vernon Cancer Centre, East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, London, UK. rachelwills@nhs.net.
Gerry LoweMount Vernon Cancer Centre, East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, London, UK.
Caroline L JonesRoyal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
Peter J HoskinMount Vernon Cancer Centre, East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, London, UK.
Mount Vernon Cancer Centre · GBEast and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust · GBRoyal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThis study compares the plan quality of high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for superficial irradiation of large areas of skin with significant curvature in one or more planes.

methodsA total of 14 patients from two centres previously treated with either HDR-BT or VMAT were retrospectively replanned using the alternative technique. Sites included scalp and lower limbs. Identical computed tomography (CT) scans, clinical target volume (CTV) and organs at risk (OARs) and prescription were used for both techniques. Conformity, skin surface dose and OAR doses were compared.

resultsConformity index was consistently better with VMAT than HDR-BT (p < 0.01). Maximum skin surface dose (D0.1cc) had a higher mean of 49.6 Gy with HDR-BT compared to 31.4 Gy for VMAT (p < 0.01). Significantly smaller volumes of healthy tissue were irradiated with VMAT than with HDR-BT. This can be seen in brain volumes receiving 10, 20 and 30 Gy EQD2 and in extremities receiving 5 and 10 Gy. When close to the volume, the lens received significantly lower doses with VMAT (p < 0.01).

conclusionIn this small sample, VMAT gives equal coverage with lower OAR and skin surface doses than HDR-BT for both scalp and extremities. VMAT is a useful technique for treating large, superficial volumes with significant curvature in one or more planes.

Indexed as

Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-AssistedBrachytherapyBrainCathetersDose Fractionation, RadiationDose-Response Relationship, RadiationHead and Neck NeoplasmsHumansOrgans at RiskPrinting, Three-DimensionalRadiation InjuriesRadiotherapy DosageRadiotherapy, Intensity-ModulatedRetrospective StudiesScalpSkinExtremitiesLimbsMouldRadiotherapyScalp

Identifiers

PMID33791816
OpenAlexW3139928817

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.