An image-based method to quantify biomechanical properties of the rectum in radiotherapy of prostate cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Gastrointestinal morbidity after radiotherapy (RT) for prostate cancer may be related to the biomechanical properties of the rectum. In this study we present a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based method to quantitate the thickness and elasticity of the rectal wall in prostate cancer patients treated with RT.

Material and methods

Four patients previously treated with RT for prostate cancer underwent an MRI session with stepwise rectal bag deflation (from a maximum tolerable volume to 0 ml, in 50 ml steps), with a probe inserted inside the bag to monitor the internal rectal pressure. MRIs were acquired using Dixon sequences (4 mm axial slice thickness) at each deflation step. Rectal walls were defined from the recto-sigmoid junction to 3 cm above the anal canal a

SUBMITTER: Casares-Magaz O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6628909 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature