ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Oncol.
Sec. Radiation Oncology
Comparative Evaluation of Symmetry, Dosimetry, and Toxicity in Prostate Cancer EBRT with Spacing Techniques
Provisionally accepted
- Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
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Introduction The proximity of the rectum to the prostate in radiation therapy for prostate cancer presents a significant dosimetric challenge, leading to high rectal doses and resulting in detrimental side effects. Perirectal tissue spacing reduces rectal dose and gastrointestinal toxicities by mechanically separating these organs. We retrospectively compared balloon and PEG hydrogel spacers, focusing on spacer geometry, symmetry, rectal dosimetry, and GI/GU toxicity. Methods Sixty-seven men with localized prostate cancer treated with EBRT were analysed (balloon = 33; PEG hydrogel = 34). Symmetry was graded on axial CT at apex, mid-gland, and base with a five-tier midline scale (SYM-1 = optimal). Anteroposterior, laterolateral, and craniocaudal separations were measured. Rectal V60%–V100% were taken from dose–volume histograms. Acute (≤90 d) and late (>90 d) GI/GU toxicities were scored (CTCAE v4.0). Two-sided p ≤ 0.05 was significant. Results Optimal symmetry occurred in 33 % (balloon) vs 14 % (PEG hydrogel); asymmetry SYM-4/5 in 27 % vs 24 % (p = 0.21). At the apex, balloon spacers consistently created measurable separation, whereas 3 patients (9%) with PEG hydrogel demonstrated complete absence of spacing. Mean anteroposterior separation was larger with balloon at all levels (p < 0.001). Laterolateral differed inferiorly (2.4 cm vs 1.9 cm; p = 0.01). Craniocaudal length averaged 4.8 cm vs 4.3 cm (p < 0.001). Rectal V60–V100% showed no significant differences. Acute toxicity was low: GI grade 1 in 6 % (balloon) vs 0 %, with one grade 3 GI in PEG hydrogel; GU grade 1 in 13 % vs 29 %, grade 2 in 10 % vs 7 %. Late events: GI grade 2 in 0 % vs 7 %; GU grade 3 in one patient per cohort (~3 %); other late toxicities mild and similar. Conclusion The balloon spacer achieved greater, more uniform separation including improved apical symmetry, and showed fewer early GI events and lower mild acute GU rates, while rectal doses remained comparable. Prospective studies with longer follow-up are needed to confirm long-term benefit.
Keywords: EBRT = external beam radiation therapy, prostate spacers, Dosimetry, Spacer geometry, Toxicicity, Spacer Symmetry
Received: 18 Jul 2025; Accepted: 25 Nov 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Ben-Dor, Shachar, Kuptzov, Billan and Charas. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Tomer Charas
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