A novel applicator design for intracavitary brachytherapy of the nasopharynx: Simulated reconstruction, image-guided adaptive brachytherapy planning, and dosimetry

摘要

PURPOSE: In nasopharyngeal cancer, brachytherapy is given as boost in primary treatment or as salvage for recurrent or persistent disease. The Rotterdam nasopharyngeal applicator (RNA) allows for suboptimal reduction of soft palate radiation dose, based on image-guided brachytherapy plans. Building on the RNA, we propose a novel design, the Benavides nasopharyngeal applicator (BNA).