Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37842073›Full record

ArticleClinical and translational radiation oncology2023

Prostate cancer image guided radiotherapy: Why the commotion over rectal volume and motion?

S E Alexander, U Oelfke, R Westley, H A McNair, A C Tree

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical and translational radiation oncology, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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. Article
  2. Toxicity of rectal preparation strategies in ultra-hypofractionated SBRT for prostate cancer.Technical innovations & patient support in radiation oncology · 2026
    Article
  3. Patient experience preparing for prostate cancer radiotherapy.Technical innovations & patient support in radiation oncology · 2025
    Article
  4. Dealing with rectum motion during radiotherapy: How can we anticipate it?Technical innovations & patient support in radiation oncology · 2024
    Article
  5. Article
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

5 authors.

S E AlexanderThe Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom and The Institute of Cancer Research, United Kingdom.
U OelfkeThe Joint Department of Physics, the Royal Marsden Hospital and the Institute of Cancer Research, United Kingdom.
R WestleyThe Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom and The Institute of Cancer Research, United Kingdom.
H A McNairThe Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom and The Institute of Cancer Research, United Kingdom.
A C TreeThe Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom and The Institute of Cancer Research, United Kingdom.

Funding

Cancer Research UK 28284
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Distended rectums on pre-radiotherapy scans are historically associated with poorer outcomes in patients treated with two-dimensional IGRT. Subsequently, strict rectal tolerances and preparation regimes were implemented. Contemporary IGRT, daily online registration to the prostate, corrects interfraction motion but intrafraction motion remains. We re-examine the need for rectal management strategies when using contemporary IGRT by quantifying rectal volume and its effect on intrafraction motion. Materials and methods: Pre and during radiotherapy rectal volumes and intrafraction motion were retrospectively calculated for 20 patients treated in 5-fractions and 20 treated in 20-fractions. Small (rectal volume at planning-CT ≤ median), and large (volume > median) subgroups were formed, and rectal volume between timepoints and subgroups compared. Rectal volume and intrafraction motion correlation was examined using Spearman's rho. Intrafraction motion difference between small and large subgroups and between fractions with rectal volume < or ≥ 90 cm Results: Median rectal volume was 74 cm Conclusion: Larger rectal volumes before radiotherapy and during treatment did not cause greater intrafraction motion. Findings support the relaxation of strict rectal diameter tolerances and do not support the need for rectal preparation when delivering contemporary IGRT to the prostate.

Indexed as

Image guided radiotherapyIntrafraction motionPatient preparationProstate cancerRectal volume

Identifiers

PMID37842073
PMCPMC10570575

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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.