Summary
This journal article focuses on the evaluation of the effectiveness of bladder-filling instructions in achieving consistent and reproducible bladder volumes during the planning and course of radical radiotherapy for prostate cancer. Here are the key findings, The study involved 30 men undergoing radiation therapy planning for prostate cancer, and they received both written and verbal instructions on bladder filling. Bladder volumes were assessed using a bladder ultrasound scanner after urination, immediately before the planning CT scan, and daily just before treatment in the therapy position.
The mean bladder volume at the time of planning was 282 ml, with a range of 89 to 608 ml and a standard deviation of 144.5 ml. Throughout the course of radiotherapy, bladder volume decreased, with a mean value of 189 ml for all treatments, ranging from 11 to 781 ml, and a standard deviation of 134 ml. The study found that during radiotherapy, a significant percentage of bladder volumes had substantial differences when compared to their volume at the time of planning, with 76% having more than 50 ml difference, 53% having more than 100 ml difference, and 36% having more than 150 ml difference.
Bladder inflow also decreased from 4.6 ml/min at planning to 2.5 ml/min after radiotherapy. In conclusion, the study suggests that while the Bladderscan device is effective in assessing bladder volume before prostate cancer radiotherapy, the evaluated bladder-filling protocol did not consistently produce reproducible bladder volumes for radiotherapy. This highlights the challenges in maintaining a consistent bladder volume throughout the treatment course.
