ABSTRACT
PURPOSE
To establish a simulation-based workshop for teaching hybrid intracavitary/interstitial
(IC/IS) brachytherapy skills using a new, commercially available US/CT/MRI-compatible
gynecologic phantom prototype.
METHODS AND MATERIALS
The VIOMERSE gynecological trainer phantom consisted of tissue-like colloid material
and was US, CT, and MRI-compatible. We designed a hands-on workshop incorporating
the phantom prototype to teach skills for hybrid IC/IS brachytherapy including pre-implant
planning, procedural steps of implant placement, and post-implant evaluation. The
workshop impact was evaluated with pre- and post-workshop surveys and responses were
analyzed with Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test.
RESULTS
Thirteen residents, divided into small groups, attended one of three separate 1-h
workshop sessions held during the gynecologic education block. Workshop steps included
IC applicator placement, tumor mapping and pre-planning desired location and depth
of needles for hybrid IC/IS application, IS needle labelling and insertion, image
review of needle placements, comparison of IC-alone versus IC/IS brachytherapy plans.
Responses to questions ascertaining knowledge, confidence, and ability in planning
and executing hybrid IC/IS procedures all demonstrated significant improvement from
pre- to post-workshop. In response to whether the session was an effective learning
experience, all residents rated the workshop with a score of 9 (n = 1) or 10 (n = 12)
out of 10, with a score of 10 indicating “strongly agree.”
CONCLUSIONS
Implementation of a hybrid IC/IS brachytherapy workshop utilizing a new, commercially-available
phantom prototype was successful, with clear, subjective benefit for the residents
in our program. This experience may inform continued efforts towards standardizing
brachytherapy curricula across programs and increasing trainee exposure to interstitial
procedures.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 16, 2022
Accepted:
November 15,
2022
Received in revised form:
November 6,
2022
Received:
August 21,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Corrected ProofFootnotes
Disclosures: VIOMERSE provided Yale Therapeutic Radiology with access to the prototype phantom for evaluation (no financial compensation).
Christopher Tien: Varian Medical Systems - Received speaker honorarium for webinar on single-institution experience with a brachytherapy applicator; American Association of Physicists in Medicine – Board of Directors (unpaid), National Brachytherapy Subcommittee (unpaid)
Gabrielle Peters: Society of Women in Radiation Oncology – Senior Advisory Committee.
This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 American Brachytherapy Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
