S42
Brachytherapy - General brachytherapy
ESTRO 2026
Digital Poster 4571
coverage was assessed using the V95% (%) parameter. Statistical analysis was performed using a paired Student’s t-test, with significance set at p < 0.05.
Innovation in the Teaching of Interstitial Brachytherapy: Educational Impact of a Theoretical–Practical Workshop Using 3D Phantoms
Ana Carolina Ahumada Pamanes 1 , Karen González Perez 1 , Abel Hernández Guzmán 1 , Gabriel Iván Hinojosa Gámez 1 , Luis Etienne Soriano Ruiz 1 , Raúl Eduardo González López 1 , Kevin González 1 , Diego Arturo Ramírez Mendoza 1 , Rafael Piñeiro Retif 1 , Silvia Estela Haces Rodríguez 1 , David Antonio Martínez Pérez 2 , Oscar Vidal 1 1 Brachytherapy, Centro Universitario Contra el Cáncer, Monterrey, Mexico. 2 Brachytherapy, AUNA las Américas, Medellin, Colombia Purpose/Objective: Brachytherapy remains a cornerstone in the management of gynecological and prostate cancers, particularly in locally advanced stages. In many Latin American countries, the implementation of image- guided interstitial techniques remains limited due to insufficient training and limited technological resources. This study aimed to evaluate the educational impact of a theoretical and practical workshop designed to strengthen clinical competencies and confidence through hands-on training with 3D-printed anatomical phantoms. Material/Methods: A two-day interstitial brachytherapy workshop was conducted at the Centro Universitario contra el Cáncer (CUCC) in Monterrey, Mexico, targeting radiation oncologists and medical physicists. The course combined theoretical lectures with hands-on sessions using cervical and prostate phantoms produced with 3D-printed molds made of PLA and silicone. Participants practiced transrectal ultrasound-guided needle insertions and dosimetric planning in accordance with the guidelines of the GEC-ESTRO and the EMBRACE II study. Pre- and post-course surveys were administered to assess changes in self-reported confidence, satisfaction, and perceived applicability to clinical practice. Results: A total of 52 participants completed both surveys. The overall evaluation of the workshop was highly positive: 88.5% rated the course quality as excellent, and 78.8% strongly agreed that the educational objectives were fully achieved. Theoretical content was rated outstanding by 78.8% of respondents, while thehands- ontraining with 3D phantoms was particularly valued (69.2% excellentand 28.8% good). Participants highlighted the relevance of the practical sessions (53.8%) and the quality of teaching (25%) as the main strengths of the program.A significant improvement was observed in self-reported confidence: before the
Results: Across all configurations, V95% values for the different CTVs showed no statistically significant differences and were consistently >95%, ensuring adequate target coverage. Likewise, no statistically significant differences were found between TG-43– and TG-186– based dose calculations for the analyzed scenarios, including CTV coverage metrics (V95%) and the dose non-uniformity ratio (DNR). Conclusion: Paired t-tests ( α =0.05) showed no significant differences in V95% or DNR across scenarios, with all plans achieving V95% ≥ 95%. These findings support the TIMER® applicator’s robust target coverage and stable dosimetry, its precision and adaptability for perineal IRT. Keywords: Dosimetry, interventional radiotherapy, applicator References: [1] Tagliaferri, Luca, et al. "TIMER (gemelli arT Interstitial Multi-imaging pERineal applicator): Dosimetric analysis of homemade device for interventional radiotherapy (brachytherapy)." Journal of Contemporary Brachytherapy 17.1 (2025). [2] Nath R et al. Dosimetry of interstitial brachytherapy sources: Recommendations of the AAPM Radiation Therapy Committee Task Group No. 43. Med Phys 1995; 22: 209-234. [3] Beaulieu, L. et al. Report of the Task Group 186 on model-based dose calculation methods in brachytherapy beyond the TG-43 formalism: Current status and recommendations for clinical implementation. Med. Phys. 2012, 39, 6208–6236
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