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Review
. 2023 Aug 18;15(16):4165.
doi: 10.3390/cancers15164165.

The Use of 3D Printing Technology in Gynaecological Brachytherapy-A Narrative Review

Barbara Segedin  1   2 , Manja Kobav  1 , Helena Barbara Zobec Logar  1   2
Affiliations
Review

The Use of 3D Printing Technology in Gynaecological Brachytherapy-A Narrative Review

Barbara Segedin et al. Cancers (Basel). .

Abstract

Radiation therapy, including image-guided adaptive brachytherapy based on magnetic resonance imaging, is the standard of care in locally advanced cervical and vaginal cancer and part of the treatment in other primary and recurrent gynaecological tumours. Tumour control probability increases with dose and brachytherapy is the optimal technique to increase the dose to the target volume while maintaining dose constraints to organs at risk. The use of interstitial needles is now one of the quality indicators for cervical cancer brachytherapy and needles should optimally be used in ≥60% of patients. Commercially available applicators sometimes cannot be used because of anatomical barriers or do not allow adequate target volume coverage due to tumour size or topography. Over the last five to ten years, 3D printing has been increasingly used for manufacturing of customised applicators in brachytherapy, with gynaecological tumours being the most common indication. We present the rationale, techniques and current clinical evidence for the use of 3D-printed applicators in gynaecological brachytherapy.

Keywords: 3D printing; additive manufacturing; applicator development; brachytherapy; gynaecological cancer.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Typical workflow for the design and use of a 3D-printed applicator when outsourcing the printing. Workflow can be shortened when an in-house printer is used.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Examples of 3D-printed applicators used in our department. (A) The 3D-printed intrauterine tandem (orange arrow) and add-on for parallel and oblique needle insertion for the ring (yellow arrow). (B) The 3D-printed tandem and ring with channels for parallel and oblique needles. (C) The 3D-printed intrauterine tandem with oblique needle channels in the stopper (white arrow). (D) The 3D-printed vaginal cylinder with parallel and oblique needles. Needle fixation screw is marked with a black arrow. Needles provided by the vendor were used in all cases.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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