Bladder volume surveillance using ultrasound volumetric imaging for the post-prostatectomy patient

Patients who have had undergone surgery to remove the prostate due to the presence of cancer may require a course of radiation therapy should risk factors for local residual disease (for example, postive surgical margins or a rising PSA) be identified. The area 'at risk' of local recurrence is bounded by the rectum, bladder and the anterior pelvic bones. Changes in rectal and bladder filling on a day to day basis impact on the shape and size of the volume that requires irradiation (the target volume). This study demonstrated that a simple hand-held ultrasound bladder scanner provides a practical, inexpensive, online solution to confirming that the bladder volume is within acceptable, patient-specific limits before treatment delivery, with the potential to improve overall treatment accuracy.

Sponsor

Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Principal investigator

A/Prof Annette Haworth, Clinical Research Physicist

A/Prof Scott Williams, Radiation Oncologist

Contact details

A/Prof Annette Haworth

Clinical Research Physicist

Email: [email protected]