ReviewJournal of contemporary brachytherapy2024
Injectable bio-absorbable spacers in brachytherapy for gynecological cancers: A scoping review.
Review in Journal of contemporary brachytherapy, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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.
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.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Stabilised Hyaluronic Acid Gel Rectal Spacers in MRI-Guided Brachytherapy for Gynaecological Cancers: A Prospective Feasibility Study.Journal of medical radiation sciences · 2026Article
- Protecting organs-at-risk in cancer therapies through temporary organ displacement: a comprehensive review.Oncology reviews · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Purpose: Insertion of a spacer between tumor and an adjacent organ at risk may improve the therapeutic ratio in gynecological cancer brachytherapy. The purpose of this review was to assess the available literature on the use of injectable bio-absorbable spacers in brachytherapy for gynecological cancers. Material and methods: Embase, PubMed, Medline, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched until March 28, 2024. Studies reporting on injectable bio-absorbable spacers in gynecological cancer brachytherapy were included. Two independent reviewers completed screening, assessment for eligibility, and data extraction of included studies. Data were collected on spacer material, technique, safety, feasibility, spacer quality, dosimetric values, clinical outcomes, and cost-effectiveness. Results: Seventeen studies met inclusion criteria, with a total of 312 patients and 169 spacers. Clinical application was primarily in cervix cancer brachytherapy (47%) and spacer placement in the recto-vaginal space (88%). Eight different products were used, with no significant spacer-related adverse effects reported. Spacer insertion reduced rectal dose in eight studies, bladder dose in one study, sigmoid dose in four studies, and permitted tumor dose escalation in three studies. Five studies reported on tumor outcomes and eight studies on late toxicities. There were no studies evaluating patient-reported outcomes and cost-effectiveness. Conclusions: Injectable bio-absorbable spacers offer a promising approach for improving the therapeutic ratio in gynecological cancer brachytherapy. There is low certainty evidence available in the literature for their use, and rigorous prospective studies are needed to provide evidence on outcomes.
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Registered trials
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