Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39802319›Full record

ReviewTechnical innovations & patient support in radiation oncology2025

The clinical application of in vivo dosimetry for gynaecological brachytherapy: A scoping review.

Amani A Chowdhury, Steve Bolton, Gerry Lowe, Eliana Vasquez Osorio, William Hamblyn, Peter J Hoskin

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Technical innovations & patient support in radiation oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Breakthroughs in modern brachytherapy are transforming cancer care.Physics and imaging in radiation oncology · 2025
    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

6 authors.

Amani A ChowdhuryMount Vernon Cancer Centre, Northwood, United Kingdom.
Steve BoltonThe Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom.
Gerry LoweMount Vernon Cancer Centre, Northwood, United Kingdom.
Eliana Vasquez OsorioDivision of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.
William HamblynMount Vernon Cancer Centre, Northwood, United Kingdom.
Peter J HoskinMount Vernon Cancer Centre, Northwood, United Kingdom.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Brachytherapy is a key treatment for gynaecological malignancies, delivering high doses to the tumour volume whilst sparing nearby normal tissues due to its steep dose gradient. Accuracy is imperative as small shifts can lead to clinically significant under- or over-dosing of the target volume or organs at risk (OARs), respectively. Independent verification of dose delivered during brachytherapy is not routinely performed but it is important to identify gross errors and define action thresholds to guide inter-fraction treatment decisions. In vivo dosimetry (IVD) is one strategy for improving accuracy and identifying potential errors. Despite promising phantom work, clinical application of IVD is lacking. A literature search was performed using Medline and EMBASE without date limits and based on the PICO framework to evaluate the clinical application of IVD in gynaecological brachytherapy. After screening of titles and abstracts, full text papers were reviewed and 28 studies were identified. Several dosimeters were utilised and measurements were typically taken from the rectum, bladder, vagina and within interstitial catheters. Significant differences between calculated and measured dose were attributed to geometric shifts. The studies reviewed demonstrated the feasibility of IVD in brachytherapy for dose verification but further work is required before IVD can be used to optimise treatment. The purpose of this scoping review is to investigate the clinical application of IVD in gynaecological brachytherapy, understand its challenges and identify the steps required to facilitate integration into everyday clinical practice.

Indexed as

BrachytherapyGynaecological malignancyIn vivo dosimetry

Identifiers

PMID39802319
PMCPMC11718348

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.